Calculation of Registration Fee
Title of Each Class of Securities Offered	Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Amount of Registration Fee(1)
$2,000,000,000 7.500% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Additional Tier 1 Capital Notes	$2,000,000,000	$232,400
$1,150,000,000 8.000% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Additional Tier 1 Capital Notes	$1,150,000,000	$133,630
Total	$3,150,000,000	$366,030
(1)   Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-203157

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(to prospectus dated March 31, 2015)

 

 

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

 

$2,000,000,000 7.500% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Additional Tier 1 Capital Notes (Callable August 10, 2020 and Every Five Years Thereafter)

$1,150,000,000 8.000% Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Additional Tier 1 Capital Notes (Callable August 10, 2025 and Every Five Years Thereafter)

 

The $2,000,000,000 7.500% perpetual subordinated contingent convertible additional tier 1 capital notes (callable August 10, 2020 and every five years thereafter) (the “2020 Contingent Capital Notes”) and the $1,150,000,000 8.000% perpetual subordinated contingent convertible additional tier 1 capital notes (callable August 10, 2025 and every five years thereafter) (the “2025 Contingent Capital Notes” and, together with the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes, the “Contingent Capital Notes”, and each a “series” of Contingent Capital Notes) are perpetual securities with no maturity date. From and including August 10, 2015 (the “Issue Date”) to but excluding August 10, 2020 (the “2020 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date”), the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 7.500% per annum. From and including the Issue Date to but excluding August 10, 2025 (the “2025 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date” and, together with the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date, the “First Call Date”), the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 8.000% per annum.

 

From and including the First Call Date and each fifth anniversary thereafter (a “Reset Date”) to but excluding the next succeeding Reset Date with respect to each series of Contingent Capital Notes, the applicable per annum interest rate will be equal to the sum of the then prevailing Mid-Market Swap Rate on the relevant Reset Determination Date and 5.80% with respect to the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes and 5.72% with respect to the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes, in each case converted to a quarterly rate in accordance with market convention (rounded to two decimal places, with 0.005 being rounded down). The interest rate following any Reset Date may be less than the initial interest rate and/or the interest rate that applies immediately

 

 

prior to such Reset Date. Subject to the conditions as described further below, we will pay interest on each series of Contingent Capital Notes quarterly in arrear on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on September 30, 2015.

 

We may redeem each series of Contingent Capital Notes, in whole but not in part, at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest to but excluding the date fixed for redemption, excluding any interest which has been cancelled or deemed cancelled (i) upon the occurrence of certain tax events or (ii) upon the occurrence of certain regulatory events, subject, in each case, to the conditions described in this prospectus supplement. Any such redemption shall be subject to a requirement to give notice to the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) and/or such other body having primary supervisory authority with respect to the prudential regulation of our business to the extent required, as described in this prospectus supplement.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes will constitute our direct, unsecured and subordinated obligations, ranking pari passu without any preference among themselves. The rights and claims of the holders and beneficial owners in respect of, or arising from, the Contingent Capital Notes (including any damages, if payable) will be subordinated to the claims of our Senior Creditors.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are not intended to be sold and should not be sold to retail clients in the EEA, 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. Prospective investors are referred to the section headed “UK Financial Conduct Authority –Restrictions on Marketing and Sales to Retail Investors” on page S-5 of this Prospectus Supplement for further information.

 

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between us and any holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes, by its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by and consents to the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of RBSG or another person; and/or (iii) the amendment of the amount of interest due on the Contingent Capital Notes, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which UK bail-in power may be exercised by means of variation of the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of such UK bail-in power. With respect to (i), (ii) and (iii) above, references to principal and interest shall include payments of principal and interest that have become due and payable but which have not been paid, prior to the exercise of any UK bail-in power. Each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders and/or beneficial owners under the Contingent Capital Notes are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

Application has been made to The Irish Stock Exchange plc (the “Irish Stock Exchange”) for each series of Contingent Capital Notes to be admitted to the Official List and to trading on the Global Exchange Market, which is the exchange regulated market of the Irish Stock Exchange. Admission to the Official List and trading on the Global Exchange Market is expected to begin within 30 days of the initial delivery of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Investing in the Contingent Capital Notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-27 and as incorporated by reference herein.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

	Price to Public		Underwriting Discount		Proceeds to us
Per 2020 Contingent Capital Note	100.000%		1.000%		99.000%
Total 2020 Contingent Capital Notes	$2,000,000,000		$20,000,000		$1,980,000,000
Per 2025 Contingent Capital Note	100.000%		1.000%		99.000%
Total 2025 Contingent Capital Notes	$1,150,000,000		$11,500,000		$1,138,500,000

 

The initial prices to public set forth above do not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the Contingent Capital Notes will accrue from August 10, 2015 and must be paid by the purchaser if the Contingent Capital Notes are delivered thereafter.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes will be issued in registered form in denominations of US$200,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof. We expect that the Contingent Capital Notes will be ready for delivery through the book-entry facilities of DTC and its participants on or about August 10, 2015.

 

Global Co-ordinator and Structuring Advisor, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Lead Manager
RBS
Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers
BofA Merrill Lynch	Credit Suisse	Morgan Stanley
Co-Managers
BNP PARIBAS		CIBC
Citigroup	HSBC	ING
J.P. Morgan	Santander	Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking

Prospectus Supplement dated August 5, 2015

 

 

table of contents

___________________

 

	Page
Prospectus Supplement
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT	2
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE	6
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	8
SUMMARY	9
RISK FACTORS	27
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS	51
USE OF PROCEEDS	52
CAPITALIZATION OF THE GROUP	53
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES	54
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTINGENT CAPITAL NOTES	55
UK AND U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES	90
UNDERWRITING/CONFLICTS OF INTEREST	96
LEGAL OPINIONS	102
EXPERTS	102
Prospectus
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
USE OF PROCEEDS	2
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC	2
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC	2
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	2
DESCRIPTION OF DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES	13
DESCRIPTION OF DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES	20
DESCRIPTION OF CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES	25
DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO DEBT SECURITIES AND CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES	32
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES	38
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES	45
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	51
LEGAL OPINIONS	52
EXPERTS	53
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES	53
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	53
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE	54
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	54

 

___________________

 

We have not authorised anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein is accurate only as of their respective dates.

 

Notice to Investors

 

Agreements and acknowledgments of investors, including holders and beneficial owners

 

Interest Cancellation and Automatic Conversion

 

As described in this prospectus supplement, the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes provide that interest on the Contingent Capital Notes will be due and payable only at our full discretion, and we will have sole and absolute discretion at all times and for any reason to cancel (in whole or in part) any interest payment that would otherwise be payable on any Interest Payment Date. As described herein, the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes also provide for circumstances under which we will be restricted from making an interest payment (in whole or in part) on the Contingent Capital Notes on an Interest Payment Date, and the interest payable in respect of any such Interest Payment Date shall be deemed cancelled (in whole or in part) and therefore not due and payable. Interest will only be due and payable on an Interest Payment Date to the extent it is not cancelled or deemed cancelled in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes and as further described herein.

 

As the Contingent Capital Notes are perpetual and have no fixed maturity or fixed redemption date, a holder may not receive any payments with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes as we are not required to pay the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes at any time prior to a Winding-up or Administration Event (as defined herein) and we will have the sole and absolute discretion at all times and for any reason to cancel in whole any interest payment.

 

By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner acknowledges and agrees that (1) interest is payable solely at our discretion, and no amount of interest shall become due and payable in respect of the relevant interest period to the extent that it has been cancelled by us at our sole discretion and/or deemed cancelled as result of our having insufficient Distributable Items or failing to satisfy the Solvency Condition; and (2) a cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (in whole or in part) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Contingent Capital Notes shall not constitute a default in payment or otherwise under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes or the Indenture. Interest will only be due and payable on an Interest Payment Date to the extent it is not cancelled or deemed cancelled in accordance with the provisions described above. Any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) in the circumstances described herein shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter, and holders and beneficial owners shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional interest or compensation as a result of such cancellation or deemed cancellation.

 

If a Conversion Trigger Event occurs, then an Automatic Conversion will occur on the Conversion Date, at which point all of our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes shall be irrevocably and automatically released in consideration of our issuance and delivery of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or other relevant recipient as described herein), and under no circumstances shall such released obligations be reinstated. The Settlement Shares shall initially be registered in the name of the Settlement Share Depository (which shall hold the Settlement Shares on behalf of the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes) or the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes. As more fully described herein, we may elect, in our sole and absolute discretion that a Settlement Shares Offer be made by the Settlement Share Depository to all or some of our existing shareholders. The realisable value of any Settlement Shares received by a holder of the Contingent Capital Notes following an Automatic Conversion may be significantly less than the sterling equivalent of the Conversion Price (as defined herein) of $3.606 initially and holders of the Contingent Capital Notes could lose all or part of their investment in the Contingent Capital Notes as a result of the Automatic Conversion.

 

By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner shall be deemed to have (i) agreed to all the terms and conditions of the Contingent Capital Notes, including, without limitation, those related to (x) Automatic Conversion following a Conversion Trigger Event and (y) the appointment of the Settlement Share Depository, the issuance of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or to the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes) and the potential sale of the Settlement Shares pursuant to a Settlement Shares Offer, and acknowledged that such events in (x) and (y) may occur without any further action on the part of the holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes or the Trustee, (ii) agreed that effective upon, and following, the Automatic Conversion, no amount shall be due and payable to the holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, and our liability to pay any such amounts (including the principal amount of, or any interest in respect of, the Contingent Capital Notes) shall be automatically released, and the holders and beneficial owners shall not have the right to give a direction to the Trustee with respect to the Conversion Trigger Event and any related Automatic Conversion, (iii) waived, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, any claim against the Trustee arising out of its acceptance of its trusteeship under, and the performance of its duties, powers and rights in respect of, the Indenture and in connection with the Contingent Capital Notes, including, without limitation, claims related to or arising out of or in connection with a Conversion Trigger Event and/or any Automatic Conversion and (iv) authorised, directed and requested DTC (as defined below) and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such Contingent Capital Notes to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the Automatic Conversion without any further action or direction on the part of such holder or beneficial owner or the Trustee.

 

UK bail-in power

 

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between us and any holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes, by its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by and consents to the exercise of any UK bail-in power (as defined below) by the relevant UK resolution authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of RBSG or another person; and/or (iii) the amendment of the amount of interest due on the Contingent Capital Notes, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which UK bail-in power may be exercised by means of variation of the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of such UK bail-in power. With respect to (i), (ii) and (iii) above, references to principal and interest shall include payments of principal and interest that have become due and payable but which have not been paid, prior to the exercise of any UK bail-in power. Each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders and/or beneficial owners under the Contingent Capital Notes are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

For these purposes, a “UK bail-in power” is any write-down and/or conversion power existing from time to time under any laws, regulations, rules or requirements relating to the resolution of banks, banking group companies, credit institutions and/or investment firms incorporated in the United Kingdom in effect and applicable in the United Kingdom to RBSG or other members of the Group (as defined herein), including but not limited to any such laws, regulations, rules or requirements which are implemented, adopted or enacted within the context of a European Union directive or regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms and/or within the context of a UK resolution regime under the Banking Act 2009, as the same has been or may be amended from time to time (whether pursuant to the UK Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (the “Banking Reform Act 2013”), secondary legislation or otherwise, the “Banking Act”), pursuant to which obligations of a bank, banking group company, credit institution or investment firm or any of its affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, amended, transferred and/or converted into shares or other securities or obligations of the obligor or any other person (and a reference to the “relevant UK resolution authority” is to any authority with the ability to exercise a UK bail-in power).

 

By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), waives any and all claims against the Trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee shall not be liable for, any action that the Trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner shall also be deemed to have (i) consented to the exercise of any UK bail-in power as it may be imposed without any prior notice by the relevant UK resolution authority of its decision to exercise such power with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes and (ii) authorised, directed and requested The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such Contingent Capital Notes to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of any UK bail-in power with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such holder or beneficial owner or the Trustee.

 

UK Financial Conduct Authority—Restrictions on Marketing and Sales to Retail Investors

 

The Contingent Capital Notes discussed in this prospectus supplement are complex financial instruments and are not a suitable or appropriate investment for all investors. In some jurisdictions, regulatory authorities have adopted or published laws, regulations or guidance with respect to the offer or sale of securities such as the Contingent Capital Notes to retail investors.

 

In particular, in August 2014, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) published the Temporary Marketing Restriction (Contingent Convertible Securities) Instrument 2014 (the “TMR”), which took effect on October 1, 2014, and, in June 2015, published the Product Intervention (Contingent Convertible Instruments and Mutual Society Shares) Instrument 2015, which will replace the TMR from October 1, 2015 (the “PI”).

 

Under the rules set out in the TMR (as amended or replaced from time to time, the “TMR Rules”) and in the PI (as amended or replaced from time to time, the “PI Rules” and, together with the TMR Rules, the “MR Rules”) (1) certain contingent write-down or convertible securities (including any beneficial interests therein), such as the Contingent Capital Notes, must not be sold to retail clients in the EEA; and (2) (a) until October 1, 2015, nothing may be done that would or might result in the buying of such securities (or the holding of a beneficial interest in such securities) by a retail client in the EEA (in each case within the meaning of the TMR Rules) or (b) from October 1, 2015, there must not be any communication or approval of an invitation or inducement to participate in, acquire or underwrite such securities (or the beneficial interest in such securities) where that invitation or inducement is addressed to or disseminated in such a way that it is likely to be received by a retail client in the EEA (in each case, within the meaning of the PI Rules), other than in accordance with the limited exemptions set out in the applicable MR Rules.

 

The Underwriters are required to comply with the applicable MR Rules, or, if not subject to the MR Rules, they will comply with them as if they were subject to the applicable MR Rules. By purchasing, or making or accepting an offer to purchase, any Contingent Capital Notes (or a beneficial interest in such Contingent Capital Notes) from us and/or the Underwriters, you represent, warrant, agree with and undertake to us and each of the Underwriters that (1) you are not a retail client in the EEA (as defined in the applicable MR Rules); (2) whether or not you are subject to the MR Rules, you will not (a) sell or offer the Contingent Capital Notes (or any beneficial interest therein) to retail clients in the EEA or (b) either (i) until October 1, 2015, do anything (including the distribution of this document) that would or might result in the buying of the Contingent Capital Notes or the holding of a beneficial interest in the Contingent Capital Notes by a retail client in the EEA (in each case within the meaning of the TMR Rules) or (ii) from October 1, 2015, communicate (including the distribution of this document) or approve an invitation or inducement to participate in, acquire or underwrite the Contingent Capital Notes (or any beneficial interests therein) where that invitation or inducement is addressed to or disseminated in such a way that it is likely to be received by a retail client in the EEA (in each case within the meaning of the PI Rules), and with respect to (i) and (ii) in any such case other than (x) in relation to any sale or offer to sell the Contingent Capital Notes (or any beneficial interests therein) to a retail client in or resident in the United Kingdom, in circumstances that do not and will not give rise to a contravention of the applicable MR Rules by any person and/or (y) in relation to any sale or offer to sell the Contingent Capital Notes (or any beneficial interests therein) to a retail client in any EEA member state other than the United Kingdom, where (A) you have conducted an assessment and concluded that the relevant retail client understands the risks of an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes (or such beneficial interests therein) and is able to bear the potential losses involved in an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes (or such beneficial interests therein) and (B) you have at all times acted in relation to such sale or offer in compliance with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2004/39/EC) (“MiFID”) to the extent it applies to you or, to the extent MiFID does not apply to you, in a manner which would be in compliance with MiFID if it were to apply to you; and (3) you will at all times comply with all applicable laws, regulations and regulatory guidance (whether inside or outside the EEA) relating to the promotion, offering, distribution and/or sale of the Contingent Capital Notes (or any beneficial interests therein), including (without limitation) any such laws, regulations and regulatory guidance relating to determining the appropriateness and/or suitability of an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes (or any beneficial interests therein) by investors in any relevant jurisdiction.

 

Where acting as agent on behalf of a disclosed or undisclosed client when purchasing, or making or accepting an offer to purchase, any Contingent Capital Notes (or any beneficial interests therein) from us and/or

 

the Underwriters the foregoing representations, warranties, agreements and undertakings will be given by and be binding upon both the agent and its underlying client.

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

In this prospectus supplement, we use the following terms:

 

·

“we”, “us”, “our”, “Issuer” and “RBSG” mean The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc;

 

·

“Group” means RBSG together with its subsidiaries consolidated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards;

 

·

“RBS plc” means The Royal Bank of Scotland plc;

 

·

“SEC” refers to the Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

·

“holders” and “beneficial owners” should be construed as references to holders and beneficial owners of each series of Contingent Capital Notes offered in this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified;

 

·

“pounds”, “sterling”, “pence”, “£” and “p” refer to the currency of the United Kingdom;

 

·

“dollars” and “$” refer to the currency of the United States; and

 

·

“euro” and “€” refer to the currency of the member states of the European Union (“EU”) that have adopted the single currency in accordance with the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended.

 

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith, we file reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can call the SEC on 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the Public Reference Room. The SEC’s website, at http://www.sec.gov, contains reports and other information in electronic form that we have filed. You may also request a copy of any filings referred to below (other than exhibits not specifically incorporated by reference) at no cost, by contacting us at RBS Gogarburn, P.O. Box 1000, Edinburgh EH12 1HQ, Scotland, telephone +44 131 626 0000.

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information we file with them. This means:

 

·

incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus supplement;

 

·

we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents; and

 

·

information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

 

This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus supplement or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. The accompanying prospectus lists documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. In addition to the documents listed in the accompanying prospectus, we incorporate by reference:

 

·

the RBSG annual report for the year ended December 31, 2014 on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 31, 2015 (File No. 001-10306) (the “2014 Annual Report”); and

 

·

the RBSG interim report on Form 6-K for the six-months ended June 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on July 31, 2015 (File No. 001-10306) (the “H1 2015 Interim Report”).

 

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus any future documents we may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus supplement until the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement is completed. Reports on Form 6-K we may furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement (or portions thereof) are

 

 

incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement only to the extent that the report expressly states that it (or such portions) is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

From time to time, we may make statements, both written and oral, regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, intentions or beliefs about future events. These statements constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution that these statements may and often do vary materially from actual results. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. You should read the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, “Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements” in the accompanying prospectus and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our 2014 Annual Report and H1 2015 Interim Report, which are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Any forward-looking statements made herein or in the documents incorporated by reference herein speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by the FCA, any applicable stock exchange or any applicable law, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein to reflect any changes in expectations with regard thereto or any new information or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. The reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that we have made or may make in documents we have filed or may file with the SEC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Prospective investors should consider carefully the risk factors incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and as set out below as well as the other information set out elsewhere in this prospectus supplement (including any other documents incorporated by reference herein) and reach their own views prior to making any investment decision with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Set out below and incorporated by reference herein are certain risk factors that could have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, financial condition or prospects of RBSG and cause RBSG’s future results to be materially different from expected results. RBSG’s results could also be affected by competition and other factors. RBSG has described only those risks that it considers to be material. There may be additional risks that RBSG currently considers not to be material or of which it is not currently aware, and any of these risks could have the effects set forth above. All of these factors are contingencies which may or may not occur and RBSG is not in a position to express a view on the likelihood of any such contingency occurring. Investors should note that they bear RBSG’s solvency risk.

 

We believe that the factors described below with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes represent the principal risks inherent in investing in the Contingent Capital Notes. Each of the risks highlighted could have a material adverse effect on the amount of principal and interest which investors will receive in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes. In addition, each of the highlighted risks could adversely affect the trading price of the Contingent Capital Notes or the rights of investors under the Contingent Capital Notes and, as a result, investors could lose some or all of their investment. You should consult your own financial, tax and legal advisers regarding the risks of an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes. As part of making an investment decision, investors should make sure to thoroughly understand the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes, such as the provisions governing the Automatic Conversion (including, in particular, the circumstances under which a Conversion Trigger Event may occur), the agreement by investors to be bound by the exercise of an UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority, that interest is due and payable only at our discretion (and in certain circumstances must be cancelled) and that there is no scheduled repayment date for the principal of the Contingent Capital Notes. Prospective investors should also read the detailed information set out elsewhere in this prospectus supplement (including any documents deemed to be incorporated by reference herein) and reach their own views prior to making any investment decision.

 

Risks relating to RBSG

 

For a description of risks associated with RBSG as well as certain risks associated with investments in RBSG’s securities, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our 2014 Annual Report which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Risks relating to the Contingent Capital Notes

 

The Contingent Capital Notes have no scheduled maturity and no fixed redemption date and you do not have the right to cause the Contingent Capital Notes to be redeemed or otherwise accelerate the repayment of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes except in very limited circumstances.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are perpetual securities and have no fixed maturity date or fixed redemption date and holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes may not require any redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes at any time. Although under certain circumstances as described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Redemption and Repurchases” we may redeem the Contingent Capital Notes, we are under no obligation to do so and you have no right to call for their redemption. Therefore, you have no ability to cash in your investment except under limited circumstances.

 

There is no right of acceleration in the case of any non-payment of principal of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes or in the case of a failure by us to perform any other covenant under the Contingent Capital Notes or under the Indenture. Accordingly, we are not required to make any repayment of the principal amount of Notes at any time or under any circumstances other than in connection with a Winding-up or Administration Event. In a Winding-up or Administration Event you may receive some of any resulting liquidation proceeds but only following payment in full of all Senior Creditors.

 

 

Interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes will be due and payable in our sole and absolute discretion and we may (and in certain circumstances will have no choice but to) cancel interest payments, in whole or in part, at any time. Cancelled interest shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter and you shall have no rights thereto.

 

In addition and subject to the Solvency Condition described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Solvency Condition” and the availability of Distributable Items as described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Interest Cancellation—Restriction on Interest Payments”, interest on the Contingent Capital Notes will be due and payable only at our sole discretion and we shall have absolute discretion at all times and for any reason to cancel any interest payment in whole or in part that would otherwise be payable on any Interest Payment Date. Interest will only be due and payable on an Interest Payment Date to the extent it is not cancelled in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes. In addition, we shall not pay any interest otherwise scheduled to be paid on the Interest Payment Date if and to the extent that the payment of such interest would cause, when aggregated with other distributions of the kind referred to in Article 141(2) of Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 26, 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC, and any successor directive (the “CRD IV Directive”) (or any provision of applicable law transposing or implementing Article 141(2) of the CRD IV Directive), the Maximum Distributable Amount (as defined below) if any, then applicable to us, to be exceeded. There can, therefore, be no assurances that you will receive interest payments in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

If we elect to cancel any scheduled interest payment or any such interest payment is deemed to be cancelled, such interest payment shall not be or become due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter and you shall have no rights thereto or claim against us with respect to such interest amount or be able to accelerate the principal of the Contingent Capital Notes as a result of such interest cancellation. If we do not make an interest payment on the relevant Interest Payment Date (or if we elect to make a payment of a portion of, but not all of such interest payment) such non-payment shall evidence our exercise of our discretion to cancel such interest payment, or the portion of such interest payment not paid. Furthermore, no cancellation of interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or the Contingent Capital Notes shall constitute a default in payment or otherwise under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes. If practicable, we will provide notice of any cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (in each case, in whole or in part) to you through DTC (or, if you hold the Contingent Capital Notes in definitive form, directly to the address shown in the register for the Contingent Capital Notes) and to the trustee directly on or prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date. However, failure to provide such notice will not have any impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such cancellation of interest, or give you any rights as a result of such failure.

 

Following cancellation of any interest payment, we will not be in any way limited or restricted from making any distribution or equivalent payments in connection with any Parity Securities or Junior Securities, including any dividend payments on our ordinary shares or preference shares. We may therefore cancel (in whole or in part) any interest payment on the Contingent Capital Notes at our discretion and may pay dividends on our ordinary shares, B shares or preference shares or on other similar securities notwithstanding such cancellation. In addition, we may without restriction use funds that could have been applied to make such cancelled payments to meet our other obligations as they become due. In addition, we may be restricted by the terms of our Parity Securities from making interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes if we do not make payments on such Parity Securities, including dividend payments on certain of our preference shares. In certain circumstances, we may have no choice but to cease payments on such Parity Securities. For example, the Companies Act 2006 (UK) (the “Companies Act”) imposes limitations on distributions by us to our members (including preference shareholders) if the amount of our net assets is less than the aggregate of our called-up share capital and undistributable reserves (the “net asset distribution test”). If we are not permitted to make payments on certain of our preference shares due to a failure of the net asset distribution test, or otherwise, we shall not pay any interest on the Contingent Capital Notes otherwise scheduled to be paid on an Interest Payment Date.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes rank senior to our ordinary shares and B shares. It is the current intention of our board of directors that, whenever exercising its discretion to declare ordinary share dividends and dividends on our B shares, or its discretion to cancel interest on the Contingent Capital Notes, the board of directors will take into account the relative ranking of these instruments in our capital structure. However, our board of directors may depart

 

 

from that current intention at any time in its sole discretion and will not be required to provide holders of the Contingent Capital Notes with prior notice of such departure.

 

In addition to our right to cancel, in whole or in part, interest payments at any time, the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes also restrict us from making interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes in certain circumstances, in which case such interest shall be deemed to be cancelled. Interest that is deemed cancelled shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter and you shall have no right thereto.

 

In addition to our right to cancel, in whole or in part, interest payments at any time as described above and, subject to the extent permitted in the following paragraphs in respect of partial interest payments, we shall not make an interest payment on the Contingent Capital Notes on any Interest Payment Date (and such interest payment shall therefore be deemed to have been cancelled and thus shall not be due and payable on such Interest Payment Date), if:

 

(a) we have an amount of Distributable Items on such scheduled Interest Payment Date that is less than the sum of (i) all payments (other than redemption payments which do not reduce Distributable Items) made or declared by us since the end of our latest financial year and prior to such Interest Payment Date on or in respect of any Parity Securities, the Contingent Capital Notes, and any Junior Securities and (ii) all payments (other than redemption payments which do not reduce Distributable Items) payable by us on such Interest Payment Date (x) on the Contingent Capital Notes and (y) on or in respect of any Parity Securities or any Junior Securities, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), excluding any payments already accounted for in determining the Distributable Items, or

 

(b) the Solvency Condition is not (or would not be) satisfied in respect of such interest payment.

 

Further, the PRA has wide-ranging powers under section 55M of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (implementing Article 104 of the CRD IV Directive) for the purpose of the supervisory review and evaluation process under that directive. These powers include, inter alia, a general power to restrict or prohibit interest payments to holders of additional tier 1 capital securities, such as the Contingent Capital Notes. There are no ex-ante limitations on the PRA’s discretion to exercise this power. If the PRA exercises this power, we will exercise our discretion to cancel (in whole or in part, as required by the PRA) interest payments in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Although we may, in our sole discretion, elect to make a partial interest payment on the Contingent Capital Notes on any Interest Payment Date, we may only do so to the extent that such partial interest payment may be made without breaching the restrictions in the preceding paragraphs. In addition, we may elect to make a full or partial interest payment with respect to a Parity Security and/or a Junior Security without making an interest payment on any or all of the Contingent Capital Notes on any Interest Payment Date.

 

We will be responsible for determining compliance with this restriction, and neither the Trustee nor any agent will be required to monitor such compliance or to perform any calculations in connection therewith.

 

Any interest deemed cancelled on any relevant Interest Payment Date shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter, and you shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional interest or compensation as a result of such deemed cancellation. Furthermore, no cancellation of interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or the Contingent Capital Notes as described above shall constitute a default in payment or otherwise under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes. If practicable, we will provide notice of any cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (in each case, in whole or in part) to you through DTC (or, if you hold the Contingent Capital Notes in definitive form, directly to the address shown in the register for the Contingent Capital Notes) and to the trustee directly on or prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date. However, failure to provide such notice will not have any impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such cancellation of interest, or give you any rights as a result of such failure. See also “—CRD IV introduces capital requirements that will restrict us from making interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes in certain circumstances and provides the PRA with the power to restrict us from making such interest payments, in which case we will cancel such interest payments, and you may not be able to anticipate whether we will cancel such interest payments.”

 

 

As a holding company, the level of our Distributable Items is affected by a number of factors, and insufficient Distributable Items may restrict our ability to make interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

As a holding company, the level of our Distributable Items is affected by a number of factors, principally our ability to receive funds, directly or indirectly, from our operating subsidiaries in a manner which creates Distributable Items. Consequently, our future Distributable Items, and therefore our ability to make interest payments, are a function of our existing Distributable Items, our future profitability and performance and the ability of our operating subsidiaries to distribute or dividend profits up the Group structure to us. In addition, our Distributable Items will also be reduced by the redemption of equity instruments and the servicing of other debt and equity instruments and there are no restrictions on our ability to make payments on, or redemptions of, Parity Securities or Junior Securities even if that results in our Distributable Items not being sufficient to make a scheduled interest payment on the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends and our ability to receive distributions and other payments from our investments in other entities is subject to applicable local laws and other restrictions, including their respective regulatory, capital and leverage requirements, statutory reserves, financial and operating performance and applicable tax laws, and any changes thereto. These restrictions include, amongst others, the net asset distribution test, which applies to RBS plc and our other subsidiaries which are public companies subject to the provisions of the Companies Act. These laws and restrictions could limit the payment of dividends, distributions and other payments to us by our subsidiaries, which could in time restrict our ability to fund other operations or to maintain or increase our Distributable Items. The level of our Distributable Items may be further affected by changes to regulations or the requirements and expectations of applicable regulatory authorities. In particular, local capital or ring-fencing requirements outside the United Kingdom could adversely affect our Distributable Items in the future.

 

Further, our Distributable Items may be adversely affected by the performance of our business in general, changes in our organisational structure, factors affecting our financial position (including capital and leverage), the economic environment in which we operate and other factors outside of our control. We shall not make an interest payment on the Contingent Capital Notes on any Interest Payment Date (and such interest payment shall therefore be deemed to have been cancelled and thus shall not be due and payable on such Interest Payment Date) if the level of Distributable Items is insufficient to fund that payment. Interest that is deemed cancelled shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter and you shall have no right thereto. See “—In addition to our right to cancel, in whole or in part, interest payments at any time, the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes also restrict us from making interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes in certain circumstances, in which case such interest shall be deemed to be cancelled. Interest that is deemed cancelled shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter and you shall have no right thereto.”

 

CRD IV introduces capital requirements that will restrict us from making interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes in certain circumstances and provides the PRA with the power to restrict us from making such interest payments, in which case we will cancel such interest payments, and you may not be able to anticipate whether or when we will cancel such interest payments. The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (the “BRRD”) also contains requirements which restrict payments of interest by banks subject to resolution proceedings. The introduction of additional capital requirements in the future may further impact our ability to make interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Under CRD IV, we are required, on a consolidated basis, to hold a minimum amount of regulatory capital of 8% of risk weighted assets of which at least 4.5% must be CET1 capital and at least 6% must be Tier 1 Capital (together, the “Pillar 1 requirements”). In addition, national supervisory authorities may add extra capital requirements to cover risks they believe are not covered or insufficiently covered by the Pillar 1 requirements of CRD IV (the “Pillar 2A requirements”). Our current Pillar 2A requirement is 3.5% of RWAs and since January 1, 2015, 56% of our total Pillar 2A requirements must be met with CET1 capital. CRD IV also introduces capital buffer requirements that are in addition to the Pillar 1 requirements and Pillar 2A requirements and are required to be met with CET1 capital (the “CRD IV buffers”). It introduces five new capital buffers: (i) the capital conservation buffer, (ii) the institution-specific counter-cyclical buffer, (iii) the global systemically important institutions (“G-SIIs”) buffer, (iv) the other systemically important institutions buffer and (v) the systemic risk buffer. Some or all of these buffers may be applicable to us as determined by the PRA. The combination of the capital conservation buffer (which, subject to transitional provisions, will be set at 2.5% from 2019), the institution-specific counter-cyclical buffer (of up to 2.5%) and the higher of (depending on the institution), the systemic risk buffer, the G-SIIs buffer and the other systemically important institution buffer, in each case (as applicable to the

 

 

institution) is referred to as the “combined buffer requirement”. These rules have been transposed in the UK and entered into force on May 1, 2014 so far as they relate to the countercyclical capital buffer, and will enter into force on January 1, 2016 so far as they relate to the capital conservation buffer and the G-SIIs buffer. The G-SIIs buffer is currently set at 1.5% for the Group and will be phased in from January 1, 2016. The systemic risk buffer will be applicable from January 1, 2019, and the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (the “FPC”) will be responsible for determining which institutions should hold the systemic risk buffer, and if so, how large the buffer should be, within a range of 0 to 3% of a firm’s risk weighted assets. The PRA has also introduced a firm specific Pillar 2B buffer requirement (“PRA buffer”) which is based on various factors including firm-specific stress test results. The PRA buffer is to be set at a level which the PRA believes will ensure that a bank can continue to meet minimum Pillar 1 and Pillar 2A requirements during a stressed period. The PRA will assess the PRA buffer applicable to an institution annually (or more often if a firm’s circumstances change) and UK banks are required to meet the higher of the combined buffer requirement or PRA buffer. The PRA recently issued a statement of policy on its methodology for setting Pillar 2 capital and a policy statement PS17/15 “Assessing Capital Adequacy under Pillar 2”, pursuant to which the new PRA buffer should be met with 100% CET1 capital consistently with the CRD IV buffers by 2019 (subject to transitional arrangements from 2016 starting with 25% of CET1 capital) which would be in addition to the CET1 capital used to meet CRD IV buffers or Pillar 1 and Pillar 2A capital requirements. The PRA will set this PRA buffer if it judges that the CRD IV buffers are inadequate for a particular firm given its vulnerability in a stress scenario, and will also consider, among other things, any risks identified by the PRA relating to management and governance failings, which the CRD IV buffers are not intended to address, the status of an institution as a systematically important firm and the availability of management actions. Unlike the CRD IV buffers described above, trigger of the PRA buffer will not lead to the automatic capital distribution restrictions described in the following paragraph. However, if the PRA determines that a firm has insufficient capital to meet its PRA buffer, it will be subject to enhanced supervisory action and will be required to prepare a capital restoration plan.

 

Under Article 141 (Restrictions on distribution) of the CRD IV Directive, Member States of the EU must require that institutions that fail to meet the “combined buffer requirement” will be subject to restricted “discretionary payments” (which are defined broadly by CRD IV as payments relating to CET1, variable remuneration and payments on additional tier 1 instruments, such as the Contingent Capital Notes). The restrictions will be scaled according to the extent of the breach of the “combined buffer requirement” and calculated as a percentage of the profits of the institution since the last distribution of profits or “discretionary payment”. Such calculation will result in a “maximum distributable amount” in each relevant period (a “Maximum Distributable Amount”). As an example, the scaling is such that in the bottom quartile of the “combined buffer requirement”, no “discretionary distributions” will be permitted to be paid. In the event of a breach of the “combined buffer requirement”, we will be required to calculate our Maximum Distributable Amount, and as a consequence it may be necessary for us to reduce discretionary payments, including by exercising our discretion to cancel (in whole or in part) interest payments in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes. The interaction of such restrictions on distributions (including interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes) with the capital requirements and buffers referred to above, remains uncertain in many respects. Such uncertainty is expected to continue while the relevant authorities in the EU and the UK consult on and develop their proposals and provide guidance on the application of the rules. In addition and as described further below, the PRA is also currently consulting on the implementation of the UK leverage ratio framework. In consultation paper CP24/15, the PRA indicated that a breach of the minimum leverage ratio requirement (but not of the additional leverage ratio to be met by G-SIIs and ring-fenced institutions or the countercyclical leverage ratio buffer) could lead to the same possible range of consequences as a breach of minimum risk-based capital requirements, which may include the application of the automatic capital distribution restrictions described above. See also —“Changes to the calculation of CET1 capital and/or risk weighted assets may negatively affect our CET1 Ratio, thereby increasing the risk of a Conversion Trigger Event which will lead to the Automatic Conversion, as a result of which your Contingent Capital Notes will automatically be converted into Settlement Shares.” below.

 

Current regulatory proposals may also, if adopted and once implemented, impose further restrictions on our ability to make payments on the Contingent Capital Notes. For example, proposals made by the Financial Stability Board (the “FSB”) recommend the adoption of total loss absorbing capacity (“TLAC”) requirements for global systemically important banks (including us) in addition to existing minimum regulatory capital requirements. The proposals currently contemplate that only CET1 capital in excess of that required to satisfy minimum TLAC requirements may count towards regulatory capital buffers, such as those introduced under CRD IV or the additional buffer requirements to be introduced by the PRA in the UK as described above. As a result of these proposals, our capital requirements, in particular requirements that we hold sufficient amounts of CET1 capital, may be effectively increased. In addition to the capital requirements under CRD IV, the BRRD introduces requirements for banks to

 

 

maintain at all times a sufficient aggregate amount of own funds and “eligible liabilities” (that is, liabilities that may be bailed in using the bail-in tool), known as the minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (“MREL”). The aim is that the minimum amount should be proportionate and adapted for each category of bank on the basis of their risk or the composition of their sources of funding. The UK government has transposed the BRRD's provisions into law with a requirement that the Bank of England implement further secondary legislation to implement MREL requirements by 2016 which will take into account the final draft regulatory technical standards published by the European Banking Authority (“EBA”) in July 2015. These regulatory technical standards set out the assessment criteria that resolution authorities should use to determine the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities for individual firms. Although these technical standards provide that they should be broadly compatible with the proposed term sheet published by the FSB on TLAC requirements for global systemically important banks, until the publication of the final TLAC term sheet by the FSB expected in or around November 2015, there remains a degree of uncertainty as to the extent to which MREL and TLAC requirements may differ. If UK authorities implement the BRRD’s MREL requirements as set out in the EBA’s regulatory technical standards in light of the FSB’s TLAC proposal as it currently stands with respect to G-SIIs like us, this may result in an increased risk of a breach of our combined buffer requirement, triggering the restrictions relating to the Maximum Distributable Amount described above. As a consequence, it may be necessary to reduce discretionary payments (in whole or in part), including potentially exercising our discretion to cancel (in whole or in part) interest payments in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes. Such cancellation could affect the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

In addition, in accordance with Article 63(j) of the BRRD, the PRA has the power to alter the amount of interest payable under debt instruments issued by banks subject to resolution proceedings and the date on which the interest becomes payable under the debt instrument (including the power to suspend payment for a temporary period). In addition, the PRA also has the power under section 55M of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (implementing Article 104 of CRD IV) to impose requirements on us, the effect of which will be to restrict or prohibit payments of interest by us to you, which is most likely to materialise if at any time we are failing, or are expected to fail, to meet our capital requirements. If the PRA exercises its discretion, we will exercise our discretion to cancel (in whole or in part, as required by the PRA) interest payments in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Moreover, our capital requirements, including Pillar 2A requirements, are, by their nature, calculated by reference to a number of factors any one of which or combination of which may not be easily observable or capable of calculation by investors. Investors may not be able to predict accurately the proximity of the risk of discretionary payments on the Contingent Capital Notes being prohibited from time to time as a result of the operation of Article 141 of the CRD IV Directive. There can be no assurance that any of the capital requirements or capital buffer requirements applicable to us will not be amended in the future to include new and more onerous capital requirements, which in turn may affect our capacity to make payments of interest on the Contingent Capital Notes. See “Interest payments on the Contingent Capital Notes are discretionary and we may cancel interest payments, in whole or in part, at any time. Cancelled interest shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter and you shall have no rights thereto.”

 

The Contingent Capital Notes may be traded with accrued interest, but under certain circumstances described above, such interest may be cancelled and not paid on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes may trade, and/or the prices for the Contingent Capital Notes may appear, on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange and in other trading systems with accrued interest. If this occurs, purchasers of Contingent Capital Notes in the secondary market will pay a price that reflects such accrued interest upon purchase of the Contingent Capital Notes. However, if a payment of interest on any Interest Payment Date is cancelled or deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) as described herein and thus is not due and payable, purchasers of such Contingent Capital Notes will not be entitled to that interest payment (or if we elect to make a payment of a portion, but not all, of such interest payment, the portion of such interest payment not paid) on the relevant Interest Payment Date. This may affect the value of your investment in the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The interest rate on the Contingent Capital Notes will be reset on each Reset Date, which may affect the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

From the Issue Date, the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes will initially earn interest at a fixed rate of 7.500% per annum, and the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes will initially earn interest at a fixed rate of 8.000% per annum. From, and including, the applicable First Call Date, however, and every Reset Date thereafter, the interest rate will be reset

 

 

on each series of Contingent Capital Notes to a rate per annum which will equal the aggregate of the then prevailing Mid-Market Swap Rate and 5.80% in the case of the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes and 5.72% in the case of the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes (as defined under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Interest”). In each case, the reset rate for each series of Contingent Capital Notes following any relevant Reset Date could be less than the initial interest rate and/or the interest rate that applies immediately prior to such Reset Date, which could affect the amount of any interest payments under the applicable series of Contingent Capital Notes and, by extension, could affect the market value of such series of Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Changes to the calculation of CET1 capital and/or risk weighted assets may negatively affect our CET1 Ratio, thereby increasing the risk of a Conversion Trigger Event which will lead to the Automatic Conversion, as a result of which your Contingent Capital Notes will automatically be converted into Settlement Shares.

 

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the “Basel Committee”) package of reforms to the regulatory capital framework for internationally active banks are designed, in part, to ensure that capital instruments issued by such banks fully absorb losses before tax payers are exposed to loss (the “Basel III Reforms”). These Basel III Reforms have been implemented in the EU through CRD IV which became applicable in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2014 (the “CRD IV Implementation Date”), subject to a series of transitional arrangements described below which are expected to be phased in over a period of time and be fully effective by 2019.

 

As a result of the changes under CRD IV, we now calculate our capital resources for regulatory purposes on the basis of “common equity tier 1 capital” or “CET1 Capital” and calculate our “risk weighted assets”, which represent assets adjusted for their associated risks, on a different basis under CRD IV than we did prior to the CRD IV Implementation Date. Each of these definitions are calculated in accordance with the capital adequacy standards and guidelines of the PRA applicable to us on the relevant date.

 

CRD IV sets out a minimum pace of introduction of these enhanced capital requirements (the “Transitional Provisions”). The Transitional Provisions are designed to implement certain CRD IV requirements in stages over a prescribed period; however, each of the EU Member States has the discretion to accelerate that minimum pace of transition in certain respects. In the United Kingdom, the PRA accelerated the introduction of certain of the enhanced capital requirements under CRD IV. In accordance with the PRA’s rules and supervisory statements published on December 19, 2013, the PRA is requiring the Group to meet certain capital targets within certain prescribed time frames, without having regard to any Transitional Provisions in that respect. Therefore, for the purposes of the Contingent Capital Notes, we will calculate our CET1 Capital and Risk Weighted Assets without applying the Transitional Provisions and will instead calculate our CET1 Ratio on a “fully loaded” basis, which is a more stringent basis than under the CRD IV regime and will lead to the CET1 Ratio as defined for purposes of the Contingent Capital Notes being lower than it would be were we to calculate the common equity tier 1 ratio applying the Transitional Provisions to our calculation of common equity CET1 Capital and Risk Weighted Assets.

 

At June 30, 2015, our CET1 Ratio, giving full effect to CRD IV on a fully loaded basis, based on our interpretation of the current rules and assuming such rules were applied as of June 30, 2015, was estimated to be 12.3%. Our fully loaded CET1 Ratio is a non-IFRS measure, and our interpretation of CRD IV and the basis of our calculation of this financial measure may be different from those of other financial institutions. For further information, see the section titled “Risk and Balance Sheet Management–Capital Management” of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014. Our estimates are based on a number of assumptions.

 

The application of the rules of CRD IV on capital ratios may be impacted as a result of the implementation of the CRD IV requirements in the United Kingdom, whether as a result of further changes to CRD IV agreed by EU legislators, binding delegated or implementing acts (such as regulatory technical standards developed by the EBA) adopted by the European Commission, or changes to the way in which the PRA applies these requirements to UK banks, including through the adoption of supervisory and policy statements in the areas in which CRD IV provides that national discretion shall be applied (including as regards individual model approvals granted under CRD II and III). The PRA’s supervisory statements SS 3/13 (released on November 29, 2013 and updated on June 26, 2014), policy statement PS 7/13 (released on December 19, 2013) and policy statement PS3/14 (released on April 30, 2014) set out the PRA’s expectations in relation to capital and leverage ratios (in the case of SS 3/13), the quality of capital (in the case of PS 7/13) and the implementation of the capital buffers requirements under CRD IV (in the case of PS3/14). In addition, the single rulebook Q&A tool introduced by the EBA, although having no binding force, may influence the interpretation and application of CRD IV, including the related delegated or implementing acts adopted by the European Commission.

 

 

Following the publication of the FPC’s recommendations in relation to leverage ratios in November 2014 and the publication of the Bank of England’s policy statement in relation to the FPC’s powers in relation to leverage ratio tools, the PRA is currently consulting on the implementation of a UK leverage ratio framework. The FPC has directed the PRA to implement: (i) a minimum leverage requirement to be set at 3% and to apply from January 1, 2016 to G-SIIs and major UK banks, (ii) an additional leverage ratio to be met by G-SIIs and ring-fenced institutions to be calibrated at 35% of the relevant firm’s G-SII capital buffer and which will be phased in from 2016 and (iii) a countercyclical leverage ratio buffer for all firms subject to the minimum leverage ratio requirements which will be calibrated at 35% of a firm’s countercyclical capital buffer and will come into force at the same time as the minimum leverage ratio requirement. In its consultation paper, the PRA indicated that it would apply the FPC’s recommendation that 75% of the minimum leverage requirement should be met with CET1 capital (with the 25% remaining to be met only with Additional Tier 1 capital with a CET1 conversion ratio of at least 7% on a CRR end point basis) and that the additional leverage ratio applicable to G-SIIs and the countercyclical leverage ratio buffer should be met entirely with CET1 capital.

 

As a result of the above, and if final PRA rules, guidance or expectations in relation to capital, MREL/TLAC or leverage were to be amended in the future in a manner other than as set out in the current proposals, and depending on the content of final binding regulatory technical standards developed by the EBA, it could be materially more difficult for us to maintain compliance with prudential requirements. Any such changes, either individually and/or in aggregate, may lead to further unexpected enhanced requirements in relation to our capital and funding and may result in a need for further management actions to meet the changed requirements, such as increasing capital or funding, reducing leverage and risk weighted assets, modifying legal entity structure (including with regard to issuance and deployment of capital and funding for us) and changing our business mix or exiting other businesses and/or undertaking other actions to strengthen our capital position.

 

In addition, regulatory initiatives may impact the calculation of our Risk Weighted Assets, being the denominator of our CET1 Ratio. The Basel Committee is currently consulting on revisions to the standardized approach for credit risk, with the main proposed changes being to (i) reduce reliance on external credit ratings for the purposes of assessing the credit profile of a financial institution’s assets by replacing such credit ratings with a number of risk drivers which will vary depending on the type of exposure and (ii) require that in calculating risk-based capital ratios, banks use in the denominator of their ratios the higher of risk-weighted assets as calculated under the standardized approach or, for banks that apply advanced approaches, advanced approaches. Although the timing for adoption, contents and impact of these proposals remain subject to considerable uncertainty, the implementation of this new risk assessment framework may impact the calculation of our Risk Weighted Assets and, consequently, our CET1 Ratio.

 

Any changes that may occur in the application in the United Kingdom of the CRD IV rules, the loss absorbency requirements under the BRRD or the FSB’s TLAC proposals subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement and/or any subsequent changes to such rules and other variables may individually and/or in the aggregate negatively affect our fully loaded CET1 Ratio and thus increase the risk of a Conversion Trigger Event, which will lead to an Automatic Conversion, as a result of which you could lose all or part of the value of your investment in the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes may be subject to Automatic Conversion following the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event, in which case the Contingent Capital Notes will be converted into Settlement Shares and, as a result, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

CRD IV and the rules adopted by the PRA in PS7/13: “Strengthening capital standards: Implementing CRD IV”, provide that, in order to count in full as additional tier 1 capital of a financial institution, all non-common equity tier 1 instruments (such as the Contingent Capital Notes) must contain a contractual term allowing them to be written-down or converted into ordinary shares upon a trigger event, defined as the common equity tier 1 capital ratio of the financial institution falling below (i) 5.125% or (ii) a ratio higher than 5.125% as determined by the terms of the instrument.

 

With respect to the Contingent Capital Notes, a Conversion Trigger Event shall occur if at any point in time our CET1 Ratio (which will be calculated on a consolidated and fully loaded basis) is less than 7.00%. For a discussion of the risks associated with the calculation of our CET1 Ratio see “—For the purposes of the Conversion Trigger Event, the CET1 Ratio will be calculated on a “fully loaded” basis. This will result in a lower calculated CET1 Ratio than one using CRD IV transitional provisions, increasing the potential for Conversion in the short term.

 

 

Changes to the calculation of CET1 capital and/or risk weighted assets may negatively affect our CET1 Ratio, thereby increasing the risk of a Conversion Trigger Event which will lead to the Automatic Conversion, as a result of which your Contingent Capital Notes will automatically be converted into Settlement Shares.”

 

Upon the occurrence of the Automatic Conversion following a Conversion Trigger Event (each as defined under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Conversion—Automatic Conversion”), the Contingent Capital Notes will be converted into Settlement Shares on the Conversion Date. Once the Settlement Shares have been issued and delivered to the Settlement Share Depository, all of our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes shall be irrevocably and automatically released and under no circumstances shall such released obligations be reinstated. As a result, you could lose all or part of the value of your investment in the Contingent Capital Notes, as, following the Automatic Conversion, you will receive only (i) the Settlement Shares or, if you elect, American Depositary Shares represented by American Depositary receipts (“ADSs”) (if we do not elect that a Settlement Shares Offer be made), or (ii) the Alternative Consideration, which shall be composed of Settlement Shares, or, if you elect, ADSs and/or cash depending on the results of the Settlement Shares Offer (if we elect that a Settlement Shares Offer be made) and the value of any Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs and/or cash received upon Automatic Conversion may have a market value significantly below the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes you hold.

 

The circumstances surrounding or triggering the Automatic Conversion are inherently unpredictable and may be caused by factors outside of our control. We have no obligation to operate our business in such a way, or take any mitigating actions, to maintain or restore our CET1 Ratio to avoid a Conversion Trigger Event and actions we take could result in our CET1 Ratio falling.

 

The occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event and therefore the Automatic Conversion, is inherently unpredictable and depends on a number of factors, some of which may be outside of our control. A Conversion Trigger Event could occur at any date, even though we currently publicly report our fully loaded CET1 Ratio only as of each quarterly period end. The PRA, as part of its supervisory activity, may instruct us to calculate such ratio as of any date, including if we are subject to recovery and resolution actions by the relevant UK resolution authority (as defined under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Agreement with respect to the Exercise of the UK bail-in power”), or we might otherwise at any time calculate such ratio in our own discretion. As such, the Automatic Conversion could occur at any time. Moreover, it is likely that the relevant UK resolution authority would allow a Conversion Trigger Event to occur rather than to resort to the use of public funds. A decline or perceived decline in the CET1 Ratio may have a significant adverse effect on the trading price of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

A Conversion Trigger Event will occur at any time if our fully loaded CET1 Ratio is below 7.00% as of any such calculation date. Such calculation could be affected by, among other things, the growth of our business and our future earnings, shock stress events that have a material negative impact on our capital, declared dividend payments, regulatory changes (including changes to definitions and calculations of regulatory capital, including CET1 Capital and Risk Weighted Assets (each of which shall be calculated by us on a fully loaded, consolidated basis and such calculation shall be binding on the Trustee and on the registered holders of the Contingent Capital Notes)), actions that we are required to take at the direction of the PRA, and our ability to manage Risk Weighted Assets in both our ongoing businesses and those which we may seek to exit. In addition, we have capital resources and Risk Weighted Assets denominated in foreign currencies, and changes in foreign exchange rates will result in changes in the pound sterling equivalent value of foreign currency denominated capital resources and Risk Weighted Assets. Actions that we take could also affect our CET1 Ratio, including causing it to decline. We have no obligation to increase our CET1 Capital, reduce our Risk Weighted Assets or otherwise operate our business in such a way, or take mitigating actions in order to prevent our CET1 Ratio from falling below 7.00%, or to maintain or increase our CET1 Ratio or to otherwise consider the interests of the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes in connection with any of our business decisions that might affect our CET1 Ratio.

 

The calculation of the CET1 Ratio may also be affected by changes in applicable accounting rules, or by changes to regulatory adjustments which modify the regulatory capital impact of accounting rules. Moreover, even if changes in applicable accounting rules, or changes to regulatory adjustments which modify accounting rules, are not yet in force as of the relevant calculation date, the PRA could require us to reflect such changes in any particular calculation of our CET1 Ratio. Accordingly, regulatory changes or accounting changes may have a material adverse impact on our calculations of regulatory capital, including CET1 Capital and Risk Weighted Assets, and our fully loaded CET1 Ratio.

 

 

Because of the inherent uncertainty regarding whether a Conversion Trigger Event will occur and there being no affirmative obligation on our part to prevent its occurrence, it will be difficult to predict when, if at all, Automatic Conversion will occur. Accordingly, the trading behaviour of the Contingent Capital Notes may not necessarily follow the trading behaviour of other types of subordinated debt securities, including our other subordinated debt securities. Fluctuations in the CET1 Ratio may be caused by changes in the amount of CET1 Capital and Risk Weighted Assets as well as changes to their respective definitions under the capital adequacy standards and guidelines set by the PRA. Any indication that our CET1 Ratio is moving towards the level which would cause the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event may have an adverse effect on the market price and liquidity of the Contingent Capital Notes. Therefore, you may not be able to sell your Contingent Capital Notes easily or at prices that will provide you with a yield comparable to other types of subordinated debt securities, including our other subordinated debt securities. In addition, the risk of Automatic Conversion could drive down the price of our ordinary shares and have a material adverse effect on the market value of any Settlement Shares received upon Automatic Conversion.

 

You will have limited rights after the Automatic Conversion and the issuance of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or to the relevant recipient in accordance with terms of the Contingent Capital Notes) will constitute an irrevocable and automatic release of all of our obligations in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes. We will have absolute discretion in determining whether and how a Settlement Shares Offer will be conducted or whether to procure that a share sale facility be established and as to the matters which will be considered when making such determination.

 

Following an Automatic Conversion, we will be obligated to issue the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or to the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes), which will hold the Settlement Shares on your behalf. Once the Settlement Shares are delivered to the Settlement Share Depository (or to the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes), all of our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes will be irrevocably and automatically released in consideration of such issuance to the Settlement Share Depository (or to the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes), and under no circumstances will such released obligations be reinstated and you will not be entitled to any form of compensation in the event of our potential recovery or change in our fully loaded CET1 Ratio after the Conversion Date. With effect from the Conversion Date, you will have recourse only to the Settlement Share Depository for the delivery to you of Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs or if we elect that a Settlement Shares Offer be made, of any Alternative Consideration to which you are entitled.

 

If we do not deliver the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depositary following a Conversion Trigger Event, the only claim you will have against us will be for specific performance to have such Settlement Shares issued and delivered. Moreover, you will not have any rights against us with respect to repayment of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes or payment of interest or any other amount on, or in respect of, the Contingent Capital Notes, in each case that is not due and payable, which liabilities will be automatically released. Accordingly, the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes will equal zero at all times from and after the Conversion Date and any interest will be cancelled or deemed to have been cancelled at all times thereafter and will not be due and payable, including any interest in respect of an interest period ending on any Interest Payment Date falling between the date of a Conversion Trigger Event and the Conversion Date.

 

In addition, we have not yet appointed a Settlement Share Depository and we may not be able to appoint a Settlement Share Depository if an Automatic Conversion occurs. In such case, we will effect, by means we deem reasonable under the circumstances (including, without limitation, issuance of the Settlement Shares to another nominee or to you directly), the issuance and/or delivery of the Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs or, if we elect that a Settlement Shares offer be made, Alternative Consideration, as applicable, to you. Such arrangements may be disadvantageous to, and more restrictive on, you, such as involving a longer period of time before you receive your Settlement Shares, or, if you elect, ADSs or Alternative Consideration, as applicable, than would be the case under the arrangements expected to be entered into with a Settlement Share Depository. Nevertheless, such issuance also will irrevocably and automatically release all of our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes as if the Settlement Shares had been issued to the Settlement Share Depository.

 

Any Settlement Shares Offer shall be made subject to applicable laws and regulations in effect at the relevant time and shall be conducted, if at all, only to the extent that we, in our sole and absolute discretion, determine that the Settlement Shares Offer is appropriate and practicable. We currently expect that in determining whether or not a Settlement Shares Offer will be conducted and, if one is to be conducted, how and to whom such Settlement Shares

 

 

Offer will be made, our board of directors would, in accordance with their duties, have regard to a variety of matters, including without limitation, the interests of our existing shareholders, taken as a whole, and the potential impact of a Settlement Shares Offer on our financial stability. Further, neither the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event nor following the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event, the election (if any) by us to undertake a Settlement Shares Offer on the terms set out herein, will preclude us from undertaking a rights issue or other equity issuance at any time on such terms as we deem appropriate, at our sole discretion, including —for the avoidance of doubt —the offer of our ordinary shares at or below the Settlement Shares Offer Price. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the Settlement Shares Offer would be conducted on an SEC-registered basis. In addition to or as an alternative to any Settlement Shares Offer, we may (but are not obliged to) procure that a share sale facility is established by the Settlement Share Depository or another third party following a Conversion Trigger Event to enable holders of the Contingent Capital Notes (at their option) to sell any Settlement Shares that they are entitled to receive from the Settlement Share Depository. If such a share sale facility is established, we may provide a preferential allocation to existing shareholders, where in our sole discretion we consider it practicable to do so and subject to applicable laws and regulations.

 

Our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes are unsecured and subordinated and will be further subordinated upon conversion into Settlement Shares.

 

Our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes will be unsecured and subordinated and will rank junior in priority of payment to the current and future claims of all of our Senior Creditors. If a Winding-up or Administration Event occurs prior to the date on which a Conversion Trigger Event occurs, we will pay each holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes an amount that would have been payable if, on the day prior to the commencement of our winding-up or notice by the administrator and thereafter, such holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes had been the holder of one of a class of Notional Preference Shares (which are an actual or notional class of preferences shares in our capital, having an equal right to a return of assets in our winding-up or administration to, and so ranking pari passu with, the most senior class or classes of our issued preference shares with non-cumulative dividends, if any, in our capital from time to time and which have a preferential right to a return of assets in our winding-up or administration over, and so rank ahead of, all other classes of issued shares for the time being in our capital but ranking junior to the claims of Senior Creditors (as defined herein) and junior to any notional class of preference shares in our capital which is referenced in any of our instruments for the purposes of determining a claim in our winding-up or administration and, as so referenced, (i) is expressed to have a preferential right to a return of assets in our winding-up or administration over the holders of all other classes of shares for the time-being in our capital and (ii) is not expressed to rank junior to any other notional class of preference shares in our capital). If a Winding-up or Administration Event occurs at any time on or after the date on which a Conversion Trigger Event occurs but the Settlement Shares to be issued and delivered to the Settlement Share Depository on the Conversion Date have not been so delivered, we will pay such amount, if any, as would have been payable to you in a Winding-up or Administration Event as if the Conversion Date in respect of the Automatic Conversion had occurred immediately before the occurrence of a Winding-up or Administration Event, regardless of whether the Solvency Condition (as described herein) had been satisfied on such date and ignoring for this purpose our right to make an election for a Settlement Shares Offer to be effected.

 

Subject to complying with applicable regulatory requirements, we expect from time to time to incur additional indebtedness or other obligations that will constitute senior and other subordinated indebtedness that will rank ahead of the Contingent Capital Notes, and the Contingent Capital Notes do not contain any provisions restricting our ability or our subsidiaries from incurring such senior or subordinated indebtedness. Although the Contingent Capital Notes may pay a higher rate of interest than other comparable securities which are not as deeply subordinated, there is a real risk that you will lose all or some of your investment should we become insolvent since our assets would be available to pay such amounts only after all of our Senior Creditors have been paid in full.

 

Therefore, if a Winding-up or Administration Event were to occur, our liquidator or administrator would first apply our assets to satisfy all rights and claims of Senior Creditors. For the avoidance of doubt, holders of any of our existing or future Tier 2 capital instruments (as described in the CRD IV Regulation) will be Senior Creditors. If we do not have sufficient assets to settle claims of such Senior Creditors in full, your claims under the Contingent Capital Notes will not be settled and, as a result, you will lose the entire amount of your investment in the Contingent Capital Notes. The Contingent Capital Notes will share equally in payment with claims under Parity Securities if we do not have sufficient funds to make full payments on all of them, as applicable. In such a situation, you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

 

In addition, you should be aware that following a Conversion Trigger Event, you will be, effectively, further subordinated as you will be treated as, and subsequently become, holders of ordinary shares, (or, if we elect that a Settlement Shares Offer be made, and only a portion of the Settlement Shares are sold, ordinary shares and cash) even if existing subordinated indebtedness and preference shares remain outstanding. There is a risk that you will lose the entire amount of your investment, regardless of whether or not we have sufficient assets available to settle what would have been your claims under the Contingent Capital Notes or of securities subordinated to the same or greater extent as the Contingent Capital Notes, in winding-up proceedings or otherwise.

 

You may receive Alternative Consideration instead of Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs upon a Conversion Trigger Event and you will not know the composition of any Alternative Consideration until the end of the Settlement Shares Offer Period.

 

You may not ultimately receive Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs upon a Conversion Trigger Event because we may elect, in our sole and absolute discretion, that a Settlement Shares Offer be conducted by the Settlement Share Depository.

 

If all of the Settlement Shares are sold in the Settlement Shares Offer, you shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Contingent Capital Note and as determined by us, the pro rata share of the cash proceeds from the sale of the Settlement Shares attributable to such Contingent Capital Note translated from sterling into U.S. dollars at a then-prevailing exchange rate as determined by the Settlement Share Depository (less the pro rata share of any foreign exchange transaction costs and an amount equal to the pro rata share of any taxes and duties (including, without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax, or any other capital, issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) that may arise or be paid in connection with the issue and delivery of Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository pursuant to the Settlement Shares Offer). If some but not all of the Settlement Shares are sold in the Settlement Shares Offer, you shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Contingent Capital Note, (a) the pro rata share of the cash proceeds from the sale of the Settlement Shares attributable to such Contingent Capital Note translated from sterling into U.S. dollars at a then-prevailing exchange rate as determined by the Settlement Share Depository (less the pro rata share of any foreign exchange transaction costs and an amount equal to the pro rata share of any taxes and duties (including, without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax, or any other capital, issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) that may arise or be paid in connection with the issue and delivery of Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository pursuant to the Settlement Shares Offer) together with (b) the pro rata share of the Settlement Shares not sold pursuant to the Settlement Shares Offer attributable to such Contingent Capital Note rounded down to the nearest whole number of Settlement Shares which, if you elect, you may take delivery of in the form of ADSs. If no Settlement Shares are sold in a Settlement Shares Offer, you will be entitled to receive, in respect of each Contingent Capital Note, the relevant number of Settlement Shares attributable to such Contingent Capital Note rounded down to the nearest whole number of Settlement Shares which, if you elect, you may take delivery of in the form of ADSs.

 

No interest or other compensation is payable in respect of the period from the Conversion Date to the date of delivery of the cash proceeds from the sale of the Settlement Shares or the Settlement Shares in the circumstances described above.

 

Notice of the results of any Settlement Shares Offer will be provided to you only at the end of the Settlement Shares Offer Period. Accordingly, you will not know the composition of the Alternative Consideration to which they may be entitled until the end of the Settlement Shares Offer Period.

 

Following an Automatic Conversion, the Contingent Capital Notes will remain in existence until the applicable Cancellation Date for the sole purpose of evidencing your right to receive Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs, or Alternative Consideration, as applicable, from the Settlement Share Depository (or the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes), and your rights will be limited accordingly.

 

Following an Automatic Conversion (and thus the issuance of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository or relevant recipient on the Conversion Date), the Contingent Capital Notes will remain in existence until the applicable Cancellation Date (at which point the Contingent Capital Notes will be cancelled) for the sole purpose of evidencing your right to receive Settlement Shares, or, if you elect, ADSs or the Alternative Consideration, as applicable, from the Settlement Share Depository (or the relevant recipient in accordance with the

 

 

terms of the Contingent Capital Notes). If we have been unable to appoint a Settlement Share Depository, we will effect, by means we deem reasonable under the circumstances (including, without limitation, issuance of the Settlement Shares to another nominee or to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes directly), the issuance and/or delivery of the Settlement Shares, or, if you elect, ADSs or the Alternative Consideration, as applicable, to you. See also “—You will have limited rights after the Automatic Conversion and the issue of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes) will constitute an irrevocable and automatic release of all of our obligations in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes”.

 

Although we currently expect that beneficial interests in the Contingent Capital Notes will be transferable between the Conversion Date and the Suspension Date and that any trades in the Contingent Capital Notes would clear and settle through DTC in such period, there is no guarantee that this will be the case. Even if the Contingent Capital Notes are transferable following the Automatic Conversion, there is no guarantee that an active trading market will exist for the Contingent Capital Notes following the Automatic Conversion. Accordingly, the price received for the sale of any beneficial interest in any Contingent Capital Note during this period may not reflect the market price of such Contingent Capital Notes or the Settlement Shares. Furthermore, transfers of beneficial interests in the Contingent Capital Notes may be restricted following the Conversion Date. For example, if the clearance and settlement of transactions in the Contingent Capital Notes is suspended by DTC at an earlier time than currently expected, it may not be possible to transfer beneficial interests in the Contingent Capital Notes in DTC and trading in the Contingent Capital Notes may cease. The Contingent Capital Notes may also cease to be admitted to the Irish Stock Exchange’s Official List and to be traded on the Global Exchange Market before or after the Suspension Date.

 

In addition, we have been advised by DTC that it will suspend all clearance and settlement of transactions in the Contingent Capital Notes on the Suspension Date. As a result, you will not be able to settle the transfer of any Contingent Capital Notes through DTC following the Suspension Date, and any sale or other transfer of the Contingent Capital Notes that you may have initiated prior to the Suspension Date that is scheduled to settle after the Suspension Date will be rejected by DTC and will not be settled through DTC.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes may cease to be admitted to trading on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on which the Contingent Capital Notes are then listed or admitted to trading after the Suspension Date.

 

Moreover, although you will become a beneficial owner of your pro rata share of Settlement Shares upon the issuance of such Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes) and the Settlement Shares will be registered in the name of the Settlement Share Depository (or the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes), you will not be able to sell or otherwise transfer any Settlement Shares until such time as they are delivered to you and registered in your name.

 

You must submit a Settlement Notice and may need an account with a clearing system in order to receive delivery of the Settlement Shares, or, if you elect, ADSs or the Alternative Consideration, as applicable, and you will be required to provide further documentation if such Settlement Notice is delivered after the Notice Cut-off Date.

 

In order to obtain delivery of the relevant Settlement Shares, or, if you elect, ADSs or any Alternative Consideration, as applicable, you (or your nominee, custodian or other representative) must deliver a Settlement Notice (and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if held in definitive form) to the Settlement Share Depository. The Settlement Notice must contain certain information, including information relating to you, the Contingent Capital Notes you hold, your CREST or other clearing system account details (assuming the Settlement Shares are a participating security in a clearing system) and any such other details as may be required by the Settlement Share Depository. Accordingly, in such cases, you (or your nominee, custodian or other representative) must have an account with the relevant clearing system in order to receive the Settlement Shares or pro rata Settlement Shares component, as applicable. Where the Contingent Capital Notes are held through DTC, the Settlement Notice must be given in accordance with the standard procedures of DTC (which may include notice being given to the Settlement Share Depository by electronic means) and in a form acceptable to DTC and the Settlement Share Depository. Moreover, each Settlement Notice shall be irrevocable and the Settlement Share Depository will determine, in its

 

 

sole and absolute discretion, whether your Settlement Notice has been properly completed and delivered, and such determination will be conclusive and binding on you. If you fail to properly complete and deliver a Settlement Notice (and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if held in definitive form) the Settlement Share Depository will be entitled to treat such Settlement Notice as null and void.

 

Although the Settlement Share Depository will continue to hold the relevant Settlement Shares or Alternative Consideration, as applicable, if you fail to properly complete and deliver an Automatic Conversion Settlement Notice on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, the relevant Contingent Capital Notes will be cancelled on the Final Cancellation Date (which will be a date at most twelve (12) Business Days after the Notice Cut-off Date). Moreover, after the Notice Cut-off Date you will continue to be required to provide a Settlement Notice, as well as evidence of your entitlement to the relevant Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs or the Alternative Consideration, as applicable. Such evidence must be satisfactory to the Settlement Share Depository in its sole and absolute discretion in order for you to receive delivery of such Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs or Alternative Consideration, as applicable.

 

We will have no liability to you for any loss resulting from your failure to receive any Settlement Shares or Alternative Consideration, as applicable, or from any delay in the receipt thereof, in each case as a result of your (or your custodian, nominee, broker or other representative) failing to duly submit a Settlement Notice (and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if held in definitive form) on a timely basis or at all.

 

You will not be entitled to any rights with respect to the Settlement Shares prior to receipt of such Settlement Shares, but will be subject to all changes made with respect to the Settlement Shares.

 

The exercise of voting rights and rights related thereto with respect to any Settlement Shares is only possible after delivery of the Settlement Shares following the Conversion Date and the registration of the person entitled to the Settlement Shares in our share register as a shareholder with voting rights in accordance with the provisions of, and subject to the limitations provided in, our articles of association. For further information, see “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Conversion—Conversion Procedures”.

 

As the Conversion Price is fixed at the time of issue of the Contingent Capital Notes, you will bear the risk of fluctuation in the value of ordinary shares. You will also bear the risk of changes in the U.S. dollar and sterling exchange rate.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event, the Contingent Capital Notes will be automatically converted into Settlement Shares. Although the market value of the Settlement Shares or, if you elect, ADSs you receive could over time increase in value, at the time the Settlement Shares are issued, the Conversion Price is not likely to reflect the then market price of our ordinary shares, which could be significantly lower than the Conversion Price. Because a Conversion Trigger Event will occur when our fully loaded CET1 Ratio will have deteriorated, the Conversion Trigger Event will likely be accompanied by a prior deterioration in the market price of the ordinary shares and/or ADSs, which may be expected to continue after the occurrence of the Conversion Trigger Event. Therefore, if a Conversion Trigger Event were to occur, investors would receive Settlement Shares or ADSs (as the case may be) at a time when the market price of the ordinary shares or ADSs (as the case may be) is diminished. In addition, there may be a delay in receiving your Settlement Shares following a Conversion Trigger Event, during which time the market price of the ordinary shares and/or ADSs may further decline. As a result, the realisable value of the Settlement Shares and/or ADSs (as the case may be) may be well below the Conversion Price. Although the market value of the Settlement Shares you receive could over time increase, at the time the Settlement Shares are issued, the Conversion Price may not reflect the market price of the ordinary shares, which could be significantly lower than the Conversion Price.

 

In addition, as our ordinary shares are denominated and trade in sterling, the market price of the Contingent Capital Notes may also be affected by fluctuations in the U.S. dollar and sterling exchange rate due to the Contingent Capital Notes being denominated in U.S. dollars. Upon Automatic Conversion, the Contingent Capital Notes will convert into Settlement Shares at the Conversion Price. Fluctuations in the U.S. dollar and sterling exchange rate could therefore also affect the realisable value of the Settlement Shares and the cash component of any Alternative Consideration.

 

Furthermore, there may be a delay in you receiving your Settlement Shares following a Conversion Trigger Event (in particular if we elect that the Settlement Share Depository make a Settlement Shares Offer, as the

 

 

Settlement Shares Offer Period may last up to forty (40) Business Days after the delivery of the Settlement Shares Offer Notice), during which time the market price of the ordinary shares and/or ADSs (as the case may be) or the exchange rate of sterling against the U.S. dollar may further decline. No interest or other compensation is payable in the event of a loss by you due to foreign currency conversions.

 

You will have limited anti-dilution protection.

 

The number of Settlement Shares to be issued to the Settlement Share Depository upon an Automatic Conversion will be the aggregate principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes outstanding immediately prior to the Automatic Conversion on the Conversion Date divided by the Conversion Price prevailing on the Conversion Date. Fractions of Settlement Shares will not be delivered to the Settlement Share Depository following the Automatic Conversion and no cash payment shall be made in lieu thereof.

 

The Conversion Price will be adjusted if there is a consolidation, reclassification, redesignation or subdivision of the ordinary shares, an issuance of ordinary shares in certain circumstances by way of capitalization of profits or reserves, a rights issue, an Extraordinary Dividend or an issue of ordinary shares to shareholders as a class by way of rights or other securities allowing you to subscribe for or purchase, or carrying rights of conversion or exchange into, ordinary shares (but only in the situations and only to the extent provided in “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Conversion—Anti-Dilution Adjustment of the Conversion Price”). These may include any modifications as an Independent Financial Adviser (as defined herein) shall determine to be appropriate. Any New Conversion Price following a Qualifying Takeover Event (as defined herein) will be similarly adjusted, subject to any modifications by the Independent Financial Adviser. There is no requirement that there should be an adjustment for every corporate or other event that may affect the value of the ordinary shares. In particular, there will be no adjustment to the Conversion Price if a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event occurs, which may occur as a result of an acquisition of us by an entity that is not an Approved Entity (as defined herein) or as a result of the New Conversion Condition (as defined herein) not being satisfied. Furthermore, the adjustment events that are included are less extensive than those often included in the terms of other types of convertible securities. Accordingly, the occurrence of events in respect of which no adjustment to the Conversion Price is made may adversely affect the value of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

As a result of your receiving Settlement Shares, or, at your election, ADSs upon a Conversion Trigger Event, you are particularly exposed to changes in the market price of the ordinary shares or ADSs.

 

Many investors in convertible or exchangeable securities seek to hedge their exposure in the underlying equity securities at the time of acquisition of the convertible or exchangeable securities, often through short selling of the underlying equity securities or through similar transactions. Prospective investors in the Contingent Capital Notes may look to sell ordinary shares or ADSs (as the case may be) in anticipation of taking a position in, or during the term of, the Contingent Capital Notes. This could drive down the price of the ordinary shares and/or ADSs. Since the Contingent Capital Notes will mandatorily convert into a fixed number of Settlement Shares upon a Conversion Trigger Event, the price of the ordinary shares and/or ADSs may be more volatile if we are trending toward a Conversion Trigger Event.

 

If a Takeover Event occurs, the Contingent Capital Notes may be convertible into shares in an entity other than us or may be fully written-down upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event following a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event.

 

If a Qualifying Takeover Event occurs, the Contingent Capital Notes shall become convertible into the Relevant Shares of the Approved Entity at the New Conversion Price as described under “Terms and Conditions of the Contingent Capital Notes—Conversion—Conversion upon the Occurrence of a Qualifying Take over Event”. There can be no assurance as to the nature of any such acquirer, or of the risks associated with becoming an actual or potential shareholder in such acquirer and, accordingly, a Qualifying Takeover Event may have an adverse effect on the value of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

In addition, we and the Acquirer have certain discretion in determining whether a Qualifying Takeover Event has occurred. A Qualifying Takeover Event requires the New Conversion Condition to be satisfied. For the New Conversion Condition to be satisfied, we must, not later than seven calendar days following the occurrence of a Takeover Event where the Acquirer is an Approved Entity, enter into arrangements to our satisfaction with the Approved Entity pursuant to which the Approved Entity undertakes to deliver the Relevant Shares to the Settlement

 

 

Share Depository upon Automatic Conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes. If we and the Approved Entity are unable to enter into such arrangements within this timeframe, the New Conversion Condition would not be satisfied.

 

In the case of a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, the Contingent Capital Notes will not be subject to Conversion unless the Conversion Date occurs prior to the occurrence of the Non-Qualifying Takeover Event. If a Conversion Trigger Event occurs following the Non-Qualifying Takeover Event (or where the Conversion Date occurs on or after the date of the Non-Qualifying Takeover Event), the outstanding principal amount of each Contingent Capital Note will be automatically written down to zero and the Contingent Capital Notes will be automatically cancelled in their entirety. Holders and beneficial owners will be deemed to have irrevocably waived their right to receive repayment of the aggregate principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes so written down and all accrued and unpaid interest and any other amounts payable on the Contingent Capital Notes will be cancelled, as described under “Terms and Conditions of the Contingent Capital Notes—Conversion—Conversion upon the Occurrence of a Qualifying Takeover Event”. There can be no assurance that a Takeover Event will not be a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, in which case investors may lose their investment in the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes may be subject to write-down, cancellation or conversion upon the occurrence of the exercise by the relevant UK regulatory authority of the bail-in or capital instruments write-down and conversion powers, which powers are in addition to the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes which provide for Automatic Conversion on the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event.

 

You should understand that the powers to convert, write-down or cancel the Contingent Capital Notes given to national regulators pursuant to the rules and regulations described below are in addition to the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes which provide for Automatic Conversion upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event.

 

As the parent company of a UK bank, we are subject to the “Special Resolution Regime” under the UK Banking Act 2009, as amended (the “Banking Act”), that gives wide powers in respect of UK banks and their parent and other group companies to HM Treasury, the Bank of England, the PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) in circumstances where a UK bank has encountered or is likely to encounter financial difficulties.

 

As a result, the Contingent Capital Notes are subject to existing UK bail-in powers under the Banking Act (such as the capital instruments write-down and conversion power and the bail-in tool, each described below), as well as any future UK bail-in powers under existing or future legislative and regulatory proposals, including further measures implementing the BRRD.

 

The BRRD was adopted by the European Parliament on April 15, 2014 and the Council of the European Union on May 6, 2014. The stated aim of the BRRD is to provide a harmonized legal framework governing the tools and powers available to national supervisory authorities to address banking crises pre-emptively in order to safeguard financial stability and minimize taxpayers’ contributions to bank bail-outs and/or exposure to losses. On January 1, 2015, the Banking Act and other primary and secondary legislative instruments were amended to give effect to the BRRD in the United Kingdom. In particular, the Banking Act was amended to implement the power to write-down and convert capital instruments (the “capital instruments write-down and conversion power”) and to amend the existing “bail-in tool” introduced under the UK Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act of 2013 (the “Banking Reform Act 2013”) as further described below, both of which may be exercised by the Bank of England (as a relevant UK resolution authority) and form part of the “UK bail-in power”.

 

The capital instruments write-down and conversion power may be exercised independently of, or in combination with, the exercise of a resolution tool (other than the bail-in tool, which would be used instead of the capital instruments write-down and conversion power), and it allows resolution authorities to cancel all or a portion of the principal amount of capital instruments and/or convert such capital instruments (such as the Contingent Capital Notes) into common equity tier 1 instruments when an institution is no longer viable. The point of non-viability for such purposes is the point at which the Bank of England or the PRA determines that the institution meets the conditions for resolution or will no longer be viable unless the relevant capital instruments are written down or extraordinary public support is provided and without such support the appropriate authority determines that the institution would no longer be viable.

 

On December 18, 2013, the Banking Reform Act 2013 became law in the United Kingdom. Among the changes introduced by the Banking Reform Act 2013, the Banking Act 2009 was amended to insert a bail-in tool as

 

 

part of the powers available to the UK resolution authority. The bail-in tool was introduced as an additional power available to the Bank of England, to enable it to recapitalise a failed institution by allocating losses to its shareholders and unsecured creditors in a manner that seeks to respect the hierarchy of claims in liquidation. The UK government amended the provisions of the Banking Reform Act 2013 to ensure the consistency of these provisions with the bail-in provisions under the BRRD, which amendments came into effect on January 1, 2015 (with the exception of provisions relating to MREL and Article 55 of the BRRD which relates to liabilities within the scope of the UK bail-in power which are governed by the law of a third country, such as the Contingent Capital Notes). Where the conditions for resolution exist, the Bank of England may use the bail-in tool (in combination with other resolution tools under the Banking Act) to, among other things, cancel or reduce all or a portion of the principal amount of, or interest on, certain unsecured liabilities of a failing financial institution and/or convert certain debt claims into another security, including ordinary shares of the surviving entity. In addition, the Bank of England may use the bail-in tool to, among other things, replace or substitute the issuer as obligor in respect of debt instruments, modify the terms of debt instruments (including altering the maturity (if any) and/or the amount of interest payable and/or imposing a temporary suspension on payments) and discontinue the listing and admission to trading of financial instruments.

 

As a result, the Contingent Capital Notes are subject to the UK bail-in power and may be subject to a partial or full write-down or conversion to common equity Tier 1 instruments of us or one of our Group entities or another institution. Accordingly, and as described above where there exists a threat that a Conversion Trigger Event may occur, trading behaviour may also be affected by the threat that the UK resolution authority may exercise the UK bail-in power and, as a result, the Contingent Capital Notes are not necessarily expected to follow the trading behaviour associated with other types of securities. As a potential investor in the Contingent Capital Notes, you should consider the risk that you may lose all of your investment, including the principal amount plus any accrued interest if the UK bail-in power is acted upon or that such Contingent Capital Notes may be converted into ordinary shares which ordinary shares may be of little value at the time of conversion.

 

Under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes, you have agreed to be bound by the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

Pursuant to Article 55 of the BRRD, subject to limited exceptions, unsecured liabilities of a financial institution governed by the laws of a third-country (which include the Contingent Capital Notes) must contain a contractual acknowledgment whereby the holders recognize that such liability may be subject to the UK bail-in power and agree to be bound by the exercise of those powers by the relevant resolution authority.

 

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between us and you (including each beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes), by your acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, you (including each beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes) will acknowledge, accept, agree to be bound by and consent to the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes, (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of ours or another person, and/or (iii) the amendment of the amount of interest due on the Contingent Capital Notes, or the date on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payments for a temporary period, which UK bail-in power may be exercised by means of variation of the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of such UK bail-in power. With respect to (i), (ii) and (iii) above, references to principal and interest shall include payments of principal and interest that have become due and payable, but which have not been paid, prior to the exercise of any UK bail-in power. You (including each beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes) will further acknowledge and agree that your rights under the Contingent Capital Notes are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

For these purposes, a “UK bail-in power” is any write-down and/or conversion power existing from time to time under any laws, regulations, rules or requirements relating to the resolution of banks, banking group companies, credit institutions and/or investment firms incorporated in the United Kingdom in effect and applicable in the United Kingdom to us or other members of our Group, including but not limited to any such laws, regulations, rules or requirements which are implemented, adopted or enacted within the context of a European Union directive or regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms and/or within the context of a UK resolution regime under the Banking Act, pursuant to which obligations of a bank, banking group company, credit institution or investment firm or any of

 

 

its affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, amended, transferred and/or converted into shares or other securities or obligations of the obligor or any other person (and a reference to the “relevant UK resolution authority” is to any authority with the ability to exercise a UK bail-in power). The U.K. bail-in power includes the capital instruments write-down and conversion power as well as the bail-in tool as set out in the Banking Act, as amended.

 

Any UK bail-in power may be exercised in such a manner as to result in you and other holders of Contingent Capital Notes losing the value of all or a part of your investment in the Contingent Capital Notes or receiving a different security from the Contingent Capital Notes, which may be worth significantly less than the Contingent Capital Notes and which have significantly fewer protections than those typically afforded to debt securities. Moreover, the relevant UK resolution authority may exercise its authority to implement the UK bail-in power without providing any advance notice to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes. For more information, see “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of the UK bail-in power”.

 

Your rights to challenge the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority are likely to be limited.

 

The BRRD, the Banking Act and the statutory instruments relating to the transposition of the BRRD in the United Kingdom contain certain safeguards for creditors in respect of the application of the capital instruments write-down and conversion power and the bail-in tool. With respect to the capital instruments write-down and conversion power, the UK resolution authority will exercise such power in accordance with the priority of claims under normal insolvency proceedings such that common equity Tier 1 items will be written down before additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments, successively, are written down or converted into common equity Tier 1 instruments. Other than respecting the creditor hierarchy as set out above, the capital instruments write-down and conversion power does not include an express safeguard designed to leave no creditor worse off than in the case of insolvency.

 

With respect to the bail-in tool, the UK resolution authority must apply the bail-in tool in accordance with a specified preference order. In particular, the Banking Act requires resolution authorities to write-down or convert debts in the following order: (i) additional Tier 1 instruments, (ii) Tier 2 instruments, (iii) other subordinated claims that do not qualify as additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 instruments and (iv) eligible senior claims. As a result, additional Tier 1 instruments (including the Contingent Capital Notes) will be written down or converted before Tier 2 instruments or subordinated debt that does not qualify as additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 instruments (and any such Tier 2 instruments or subordinated debt would only be written down or converted if the reduction of additional Tier 1 instruments does not sufficiently reduce the aggregate amount of liabilities that must be written down or converted). Unlike the capital instruments write-down and conversion power, the bail-in tool contains an express safeguard designed to leave no creditor worse off than in the case of insolvency.

 

Notwithstanding the above, there may be limited protections, if any, that will be available to holders of securities subject to the UK bail-in power (including the Contingent Capital Notes) and to the broader resolution powers of the relevant UK resolution authority. For example, the Bank of England’s resolution instrument with respect to the exercise of the bail-in tool may make any provision that the Bank of England considers to be appropriate in exercising its specific powers. Such provisions are expected to be specific and tailored to the circumstances that have led to the exercise of the bail-in tool under the Banking Act and there is uncertainty as to the extent to which usual processes and/or procedures under English law will be available to holders of securities (including the Contingent Capital Notes) or that the safeguards described above will be effective if such powers are exercised. Accordingly, you may have limited or circumscribed rights to challenge any decision of the Bank of England or other relevant UK resolution authority to exercise its UK bail-in power.

 

Other powers contained in the Special Resolution Regime under the Banking Act may affect your rights under, and the value of your investment in, the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The “Special Resolution Regime” under the Banking Act also includes powers to (a) transfer all or some of the securities issued by a UK bank or its parent, or all or some of the property, rights and liabilities of a UK bank or its parent (which would include the Contingent Capital Notes), to a commercial purchaser or, in the case of securities, into temporary public ownership, or, in the case of property, rights or liabilities, to a bridge bank (an entity owned by the Bank of England); (b) together with another resolution tool only, transfer impaired or problem assets to one or more publicly owned asset management vehicles to allow them to be managed with a view to maximizing their value through eventual sale or orderly wind-down; (c) override any default provisions, contracts or other agreements, including provisions that would otherwise allow a party to terminate a contract or accelerate the

 

 

payment of an obligation; (d) commence certain insolvency procedures in relation to a UK bank; and (e) override, vary or impose contractual obligations, for reasonable consideration, between a UK bank or its parent and its group undertakings (including undertakings which have ceased to be members of the group), in order to enable any transferee or successor bank of the UK bank to operate effectively.

 

The Banking Act also gives power to the UK government to make further amendments to the law for the purpose of enabling it to use the Special Resolution Regime powers effectively, potentially with retrospective effect.

 

The powers set out in the Banking Act could affect how credit institutions (and their parent companies) and investment firms are managed as well as, in certain circumstances, the rights of creditors. Accordingly, the taking of any actions contemplated by the Banking Act may affect your rights under the Contingent Capital Notes, and the value of your Contingent Capital Notes may be affected by the exercise of any such powers or threat thereof.

 

The circumstances under which the relevant UK resolution authority would exercise its UK bail-in power are currently uncertain.

 

There remains uncertainty as to how or when the UK bail-in powers may be exercised and how they would affect the Group and the Contingent Capital Notes. The determination that all or part of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes will be subject to loss absorption is likely to be inherently unpredictable and may depend on a number of factors which may be outside of our control. Although there are proposed pre-conditions for the exercise of the UK bail-in power, there remains uncertainty regarding the specific factors which the relevant UK resolution authority would consider in deciding whether to exercise the UK bail-in power with respect to the relevant financial institution and/or securities, such as the Contingent Capital Notes, issued by that institution. In particular, in determining whether an institution is failing or likely to fail, the Bank of England and the PRA shall consider a number of factors, including, but not limited to, an institution’s capital and liquidity position, governance arrangements and any other elements affecting the institution’s continuing authorization. Moreover, as the final criteria that the relevant UK resolution authority would consider in exercising any UK bail-in power is likely to provide it with discretion, you may not be able to refer to publicly available criteria in order to anticipate a potential exercise of any such UK bail-in power. Because of this inherent uncertainty, it will be difficult to predict when, if at all, the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the Bank of England, as UK resolution authority, may occur which would result in a principal write off or conversion to equity. The uncertainty may adversely affect the value of your investment in the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

In addition, certain provisions of the BRRD remain subject to transposition measures in the United Kingdom and regulatory technical standards and implementing technical standards to be prepared by the European Banking Authority. In addition to the BRRD and the Banking Act, it is possible that the application of other relevant laws, the Basel III Reforms and any amendments thereto or other similar regulatory proposals, including proposals by the FSB on cross-border recognition of resolution actions, could be used in such a way as to result in the Contingent Capital Notes absorbing losses in the manner described above. Any actions by the UK resolution authority pursuant to the powers granted to it as a result of the transposition of the BRRD, or other measures or proposals relating to the resolution of financial institutions, may adversely affect the rights of holders of the Contingent Capital Notes, the price or value of an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes and/or the Group’s ability to satisfy its obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Subject to certain conditions, including the Solvency Condition and regulatory approvals, we have the option to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes on certain dates.

 

Subject to the Solvency Condition as described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Solvency Condition” being satisfied on the relevant redemption date, our having satisfied certain pre-conditions which include, among others, having given any required notice to the PRA and the PRA granting permission to such redemption (to the extent and in the manner required by the CRD IV), the non-occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event and compliance by us with any alternative or additional pre-conditions to redemption set out in the Capital Regulations and/or required by the PRA from time to time, we may opt to redeem all, but not some only, of the Contingent Capital Notes at their principal amount together with accrued but unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or a Capital Disqualification Event as described in “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Redemption and Repurchases”. If either of these events were to occur at any time after the Issue Date, it is therefore possible that we would be able to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes at any time after the Issue Date and prior to the relevant First Call Date.

 

 

In addition, we may redeem the Contingent Capital Notes in whole (but not in part) on any Reset Date, as more particularly described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Redemption and Repurchases—Optional Redemption”. Our optional redemption on any Reset Date may limit the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes to the redemption price during the period shortly before the relevant Reset Date. Moreover, if we redeem the Contingent Capital Notes in any of the circumstances mentioned above, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in securities offering a comparable yield. In addition, any early redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes may be subject to additional conditions imposed by the PRA, regardless of whether such redemption would be favourable to you.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes do not contain events of default and the remedies available to you under the Contingent Capital Notes are limited.

 

The terms of the Contingent Capital Notes do not provide for any events of default. You may not at any time demand repayment or redemption of your Contingent Capital Notes, although in a Winding-up or Administration Event prior to a Conversion Trigger Event, you will have a claim for an amount equal to the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes plus any accrued interest that has not otherwise been cancelled subject to the subordination provisions of the Contingent Capital Notes. There is no right of acceleration in the case of non-payment of principal or interest on the Contingent Capital Notes or of our failure to perform any of our obligations under or in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The sole remedy in the event of any non-payment of principal under the Contingent Capital Notes subject to certain conditions as described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Enforcement Events and Remedies” is that the Trustee, on your behalf may, at its discretion, or shall at the direction of the holders of 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Contingent Capital Notes, subject to applicable laws, institute proceedings for our winding-up. In the event of a Winding-up or Administration Event, whether or not instituted by the Trustee, the Trustee may evidence any of our obligations arising under the Contingent Capital Notes in any such Winding-up or Administration Event.

 

Prior to the occurrence of any Winding-up or Administration Event, the Contingent Capital Notes will remain subject to (i) Automatic Conversion upon a Conversion Trigger Event, (ii) the exercise of the UK bail-in power and (iii) a write down of the Contingent Capital Notes upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event following a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event none of which constitute an Enforcement Event or a Winding-up or Administration Event under the Indenture. We are entitled to cancel any interest payment as described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes——Interest Cancellation” and such cancellation or deemed cancellation (in each case, in whole or in part) will not constitute an Enforcement Event. If Settlement Shares are not issued and delivered to the Settlement Share Depository following a Conversion Trigger Event, your only claim will be a claim for specific performance to have such Settlement Shares issued, or claims to participate in our liquidation proceeds.

 

The remedies under the Contingent Capital Notes are more limited than those typically available to our unsubordinated creditors. For further detail regarding the limited remedies of the Trustee and the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes, see “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Enforcement Events and Remedies”.

 

There is no limit on the amount or type of further securities or indebtedness that we may issue, incur or guarantee.

 

There is no restriction on the amount of securities or other liabilities that we may issue, incur or guarantee and which rank senior to, or pari passu with, the Contingent Capital Notes. The issue or guaranteeing of any such securities or the incurrence of any such other liabilities may reduce the amount (if any) recoverable by you during a Winding-up or Administration Event and may limit our ability to meet our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes. In addition, the Contingent Capital Notes do not contain any restriction on our ability to issue securities that may have preferential rights to those of the Contingent Capital Notes or securities with similar, different or no Conversion Trigger Event provisions.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are our exclusive obligations.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are our exclusive obligations. We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities, and have no obligations to pay any amounts due on the Contingent Capital Notes or to provide us with funds to meet

 

 

any of our payment obligations. Our rights to participate in the assets of any subsidiary if it is liquidated will be subject to the prior claims of its creditors.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are novel and complex financial instruments that involve a high degree of risk and may not be a suitable investment for all investors.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are novel and complex financial instruments that involve a high degree of risk. As a result, an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes and the Settlement Shares issuable following a Conversion Trigger Event will involve certain increased risks. Each potential investor of the Contingent Capital Notes must determine the suitability (either alone or with the help of a financial adviser) of that investment in light of its own circumstances. In particular, each potential investor should:

 

(i)

have sufficient knowledge and experience to make a meaningful evaluation of the Contingent Capital Notes, the merits and risks of investing in the Contingent Capital Notes and the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or any applicable supplement to this prospectus supplement;

 

(ii)

have access to, and knowledge of, appropriate analytical tools to evaluate, in the context of its particular financial situation, an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes and the impact such investment will have on its overall investment portfolio;

 

(iii)

have sufficient financial resources and liquidity to bear all of the risks of an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes, including where the currency for principal or interest payments, i.e., U.S. dollars, is different from the currency in which such potential investor’s financial activities are principally denominated and the possibility that the entire principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes could be lost, including following the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of any UK bail-in power;

 

(iv)

understand thoroughly the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes, such as the provisions governing the Automatic Conversion (including, in particular, the calculation of the CET1 Ratio, as well as under what circumstances a Conversion Trigger Event will occur), and be familiar with the behaviour of any relevant indices and financial markets, including the possibility that the Contingent Capital Notes may become subject to write down or conversion if the UK bail-in power is exercised; and

 

(v)

be able to evaluate possible scenarios for economic, interest rate and other factors that may affect its investment and its ability to bear the applicable risks.

 

Sophisticated investors generally do not purchase complex financial instruments that bear a high degree of risk as stand-alone investments. They purchase such financial instruments as a way to enhance yield with an understood, measured, appropriate addition of risk to their overall portfolios. A potential investor should not invest in the Contingent Capital Notes unless it has the knowledge and expertise (either alone or with a financial advisor) to evaluate how the Contingent Capital Notes will perform under changing conditions, the resulting effects on the likelihood of the Automatic Conversion into Settlement Shares and the value of the Contingent Capital Notes, and the impact this investment will have on the potential investor’s overall investment portfolio. Prior to making an investment decision, potential investors should consider carefully, in light of their own financial circumstances and investment objectives, all the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the base prospectus or incorporated by reference herein.

 

The market value of the Contingent Capital Notes may be influenced by unpredictable factors.

 

Certain factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the value of the Contingent Capital Notes and the price, if any, at which securities dealers may be willing to purchase or sell the Contingent Capital Notes in the secondary market, including:

 

·

our creditworthiness from time to time;

 

·

supply and demand for the Contingent Capital Notes;

 

·

economic, financial, political or regulatory events or judicial decisions that affect us or the financial markets generally, including the introduction of any financial transactions tax; and

 

 

 

·

the trading price of our ordinary shares and/or ADSs.

 

Accordingly, if you sell your Contingent Capital Notes in the secondary market, you may not be able to obtain a price equal to the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes or a price equal to the price that you paid for the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Changes in law may adversely affect your rights under the Contingent Capital Notes or may adversely affect the Group’s business, financial performance and capital plans.

 

Changes in law after the date hereof may affect your rights as a holder of Contingent Capital Notes as well as the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes. A number of regulators are currently proposing or considering legislation and rule making which may affect the Group’s business, your rights as a holder of the Contingent Capital Notes and the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes. Such changes in law may include changes in statutory, tax and regulatory regimes during the life of the Contingent Capital Notes, or changes that could have a significant impact on the future legal entity structure, business mix (including a potential exit of certain business activities) and management of the Group, and use of capital and requirements for loss-absorbing capacity within the Group, which may have an adverse effect on an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Moreover, any change in law or regulation that would cause the Contingent Capital Notes to be fully excluded (or likely to be fully excluded) from Tier 1 Capital would trigger a Capital Disqualification Event, and any change in law or regulation that results in our having to pay additional amounts to you, or results in certain other tax consequences including (but not limited to) our not being entitled to claim a deduction for UK tax purposes in respect of interest payments (or the value of such deduction to us being materially reduced), could trigger a Tax Event, each of which may entitle us to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes, in whole (but not in part) as more particularly described under “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes—Redemption and Repurchases—Tax Redemption” and “—Redemption Due to a Capital Disqualification Event”.

 

Such legislative and regulatory uncertainty could also affect your ability to accurately value the Contingent Capital Notes and therefore affect the trading price of the Contingent Capital Notes given the extent and impact on the Contingent Capital Notes that one or more regulatory or legislative changes, including those described under “—The circumstances under which the relevant UK Resolution Authority would exercise its proposed UK bail-in power are currently uncertain and you may have limited rights to challenge such exercise”, could have on the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

You may be subject to disclosure obligations and/or may need approval from our regulator under certain circumstances.

 

As you may receive Settlement Shares if a Conversion Trigger Event occurs, an investment in the Contingent Capital Notes may result in your having to comply with certain disclosure and/or regulatory approval requirements pursuant to applicable laws and regulations following an Automatic Conversion. For example, pursuant to Chapter 5 of the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules Sourcebook of the FCA Handbook, we (and the UK Financial Conduct Authority) must be notified by a person when the percentage of voting rights in us controlled by that person (together with its concert parties), by virtue of direct or indirect holdings of shares aggregated with direct or indirect holdings of certain financial instruments, reaches or crosses 3% and every percentage point thereafter.

 

Furthermore, as Settlement Shares represent voting securities of a parent undertaking of a number of regulated group entities, under the laws of the United Kingdom, the United States and other jurisdictions, ownership of the Contingent Capital Notes (or the Settlement Shares) above certain levels may require you to obtain regulatory approval or subject you to additional regulation.

 

Non-compliance with such disclosure and/or approval requirements may lead to the incurrence of substantial fines or other criminal and/or civil penalties and/or suspension of voting rights associated with the Contingent Capital Notes. Accordingly, each potential investor should consult its legal advisers as to the terms of the Contingent Capital Note, in respect of its existing shareholding and the level of holding it would have if it receives Settlement Shares following a Conversion Trigger Event.

 

 

There is no established trading market for the Contingent Capital Notes and one may not develop.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes will have no established trading market when issued, and although we expect to list the Contingent Capital Notes on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange, one may never develop. If a market does develop, it may not be liquid. Therefore, investors may not be able to sell their Contingent Capital Notes easily or at prices that will provide them with a yield comparable to similar investments that have a developed secondary market. This is particularly the case for securities that are especially sensitive to interest rates, currency or market risks, are designed for specific investment objectives and strategies, have been structured to meet the investment requirements of limited categories of investors or include features such as the Automatic Conversion and UK bail-in power. These types of securities would generally have a more limited secondary market and more price volatility than conventional debt securities. Illiquidity may have a material adverse effect on the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are not investment grade and are subject to the risks associated with non-investment grade securities.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes, upon issuance, will not be considered to be investment grade securities, and as such will be subject to a higher risk of price volatility than higher-rated securities. Furthermore, deteriorating outlooks for us or the Group, or volatile markets, could lead to a significant deterioration in market prices of below-investment grade rated securities such as the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Credit ratings may not reflect all risks and a downgrade, suspension or withdrawal of the rating assigned by any rating agency to the Contingent Capital Notes could cause the liquidity or market value of the Contingent Capital Notes to decline.

 

One or more independent credit rating agencies may assign credit ratings to the Contingent Capital Notes. The ratings may not reflect the potential impact of all risks related to the structure, market, Automatic Conversion, UK bail-in power, additional factors discussed above and other factors that may affect the value of the Contingent Capital Notes. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised or withdrawn by the rating agency at any time.

 

Moreover, the rating agencies that currently, or may in the future, publish a rating for us or the Contingent Capital Notes may change the methodologies that they use for analyzing securities with features similar to the Contingent Capital Notes. For example, S&P published revised criteria for determining credit ratings on bank hybrid capital instruments to reflect changes in the regulatory framework for such capital instruments, including the role of the UK bail-in power. Such changes in the methodology used by rating agencies may have a material adverse effect on the Contingent Capital Notes’ ratings.

 

Upon issuance, the Contingent Capital Notes will be rated by nationally recognised statistical ratings organizations and may in the future be rated by additional rating agencies. However, we are under no obligation to ensure the Contingent Capital Notes are rated by any rating agency and any rating initially assigned to the Contingent Capital Notes may be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in that rating agency’s judgment, circumstances relating to the basis of the rating, such as adverse changes to our business, so warrant. If we determine to no longer maintain one or more ratings, or if any rating agency lowers or withdraws its rating, such event could reduce the liquidity or market value of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Real or expected downgrades, suspensions or withdrawals of, or changes in the methodology used to determine, credit ratings assigned to us or the Contingent Capital Notes could cause the liquidity or trading prices of the Contingent Capital Notes to decline significantly. Additionally, any uncertainty about the extent of any anticipated changes to the credit ratings assigned to us or the Contingent Capital Notes may adversely affect the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

You may not be entitled to receive US dollars in a winding-up.

 

If you are entitled to any recovery with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes in any winding-up, you might not be entitled in those proceedings to a recovery in US dollars and might be entitled only to a recovery in pounds sterling or any other lawful currency of the United Kingdom. In addition, under current English law, our liability to you would have to be converted into pounds sterling or any other lawful currency of the United Kingdom at a date

 

 

close to the commencement of proceedings against us and you would be exposed to currency fluctuations between that date and the date you receive proceeds pursuant to such proceedings, if any.

 

You will be responsible for any taxes following an Automatic Conversion.

 

Neither we nor any member of the Group will be liable for any taxes or duties (including, without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital, issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) arising on conversion or that may arise or be paid in connection with the issue and delivery of Settlement Shares and Alternative Consideration, if applicable, following an Automatic Conversion. You must pay any taxes and duties (including, without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital, issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) arising on conversion in connection with the issue and delivery of Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository on your behalf.

 

Certain adjustments to the conversion price of the Contingent Capital Notes pursuant to anti-dilution provisions may cause a U.S. Holder to be deemed to have received a distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

The conversion price in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes may be adjusted in certain circumstances pursuant to anti-dilution provisions.  Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable Treasury regulations, adjustments that have the effect of increasing a U.S. Holder’s interest in the Issuer’s assets or earnings and profits may, in certain circumstances, result in a deemed distribution to the U.S. Holder.  Any deemed distribution will generally be taxable as a dividend as described in “UK and U.S. Federal Tax Consequences—United States—Taxation of the Contingent Capital Notes—Taxation of Distributions”.  U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers as to the tax consequences of any adjustments to the conversion price.

 

Potential FATCA Withholding After December 31, 2016

 

Under certain provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder commonly referred to as “FATCA” as well as certain intergovernmental agreements between the United States and certain other countries (including the United Kingdom) together with implementing legislation and regulations, certain payments in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs made after December 31, 2016 may be subject to withholding (“FATCA withholding”) to the extent that such payments are “foreign passthru payments” to non-U.S. financial institutions (including intermediaries) that have not entered into agreements with the U.S. Treasury pursuant to FATCA or otherwise established an exemption from FATCA, or to other holders that fail to provide sufficient identifying information.  Under current guidance it is not clear whether and to what extent payments on the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs will be considered foreign passthru payments subject to FATCA withholding or the extent to which foreign passthru payment withholding will be required under intergovernmental agreements or implementing legislation or regulations.  Holders of Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs should consult their tax advisers as to how these rules may apply to payments they receive under the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs.

 

Limitation on gross-up obligation under the Contingent Capital Notes

 

Our obligation to pay additional amounts in respect of any withholding or deduction in respect of taxes under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes applies only to payments of interest due and paid under the Contingent Capital Notes and not to payments of principal. As such, we would not be required to pay any additional amounts under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes to the extent any withholding or deduction applied to payments of principal. Accordingly, if any such withholding or deduction were to apply to any payments of principal under the Contingent Capital Notes, you may receive less than the full amount due under the Contingent Capital Notes, and the market value of the Contingent Capital Notes may be adversely affected.

 

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

H1 2015 Interim Report

 

Please refer to our H1 2015 Interim Report, which contains recent developments, including in relation to the Group’s strategic plan, operating performance, and litigation, investigations and proceedings, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds from the issue of the Contingent Capital Notes are expected to amount to U.S.$3,117,079,500 after deduction of the underwriting commission and the other expenses incurred in connection with the issue of the Contingent Capital Notes. We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.

 

 

CAPITALIZATION OF THE GROUP

 

The following table shows the Group’s issued and fully paid share capital, owners’ equity and indebtedness on an unaudited consolidated basis in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as at June 30, 2015.

 

		As at June 30, 2015
		Actual				As Adjusted(1)
			£million				£million
Share capital – allotted, called up and fully paid
Ordinary shares of £1.00			6,470				6,470
B shares of £0.01(2)			510				510
Dividend access share of £0.01(3)			—				—
Non-cumulative preference shares of U.S.$0.01			1				1
Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01(4)			—				—
Non-cumulative preference shares of £1.00(5)			—				—
			6,981				6,981
Retained earnings and other reserves			49,083				51,067
Owners’ equity			56,064				58,048
Group indebtedness
Subordinated liabilities			19,683				19,683
Debt securities in issue			41,819				41,819
Total indebtedness			61,502				61,502
Total capitalization and indebtedness			117,566				119,550

 

(1)

The ‘As adjusted’ column reflects the effects of the issue of the Contingent Capital Notes offered hereby. Amounts shown have been converted from dollars to sterling at a rate of $1.5719=£1.00, the rate used to translate assets and liabilities as at June 30, 2015. We make no representation that amounts have been or could have been or could in the future be converted into dollars at that rate or any other rate.

 

(2)

There will be no adjustment to the conversion price of the 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 our ordinary shares at that time.

 

(3)

As at June 30, 2015, there was one Dividend access share of £0.01 outstanding.

 

(4)

As at June 30, 2015, there were 2,044,418 Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01 outstanding, representing €20,444 (£14,052, converted from euros to sterling at a rate of €1.4549=£1.00, the rate used to translate assets and liabilities as at the date of issue of the Non-cumulative preference shares). We make no representation that amounts have been or could have been or could in the future be converted into sterling at that rate or any other rate.

 

(5) As at June 30, 2015, there were 54,442 Non-cumulative preference shares of £1.00 outstanding, representing £54,442.

 

Under IFRS, certain preference shares are classified as debt and are included in subordinated liabilities in the table above. The information contained in the table above has not changed materially since June 30, 2015.

 

On July 30, 2015, RBSG announced its intention to redeem four series of its outstanding dollar preference shares, represented by American depositary shares (the “Securities”), on September 1, 2015. The total aggregate amount of the Securities to be redeemed is expected to be approximately $1.9 billion, which will reduce RBSG’s retained earnings by approximately £1.2 billion. The reduction of RBSG’s retained earnings will have an equal impact on the amount of RBSG’s Distributable Items which are relevant to RBSG’s ability to pay interest on the Contingent Capital Notes. As at June 30, 2015, RBSG had approximately £17.9 billion of retained earnings on a solo basis. See “Risk Factors” starting on page S-27 of this prospectus supplement

 

 

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

	Six-months ended June 30, 2015(3)		Year Ended December 31,
			2014		2013		2012		2011		2010
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference share dividends(1)(2)
– including interest on deposits	1.07		1.52		(0.51)		0.13		0.78		0.95
– excluding interest on deposits	1.19		2.61		(5.12)		(3.73)		(0.86)		0.52
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges only(1)(2)
– including interest on deposits	1.17		1.67		(0.55)		0.13		0.78		0.97
– excluding interest on deposits	1.58		3.58		(6.95)		(4.80)		(0.86)		0.61

 

(1)

For this purpose, earnings consist of operating profit before tax and non-controlling interests, plus fixed charges less the unremitted income of associated undertakings (share of profits less dividends received). Fixed charges consist of total interest expense, including or excluding interest on deposits and debt securities in issue, as appropriate, and the proportion of rental expense deemed representative of the interest factor (one third of total rental expenses).

 

(2)

The earnings for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were inadequate to cover total fixed charges and preference share dividends. The coverage deficiency for total fixed charges and preference share dividends for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were £9,247 million, £6,353 million, £1,860 million and £397 million respectively. The coverage deficiency for fixed charges only for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were £8,849 million, £6,052 million, £1,860 million and £263 million respectively.

 

(3)

Based on unaudited numbers.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTINGENT CAPITAL NOTES

 

The following is a summary of certain terms of the Contingent Capital Notes. It supplements the description of the general terms of the Contingent Convertible Securities and any series we may issue contained in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of Contingent Convertible Securities” and “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities”. If there is any inconsistency between the following summary and the description in the accompanying prospectus, the following summary governs.

 

The summary set forth below does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Contingent Convertible Securities Indenture which we expect to be dated as of the Issue Date (the “Original Indenture”), between us as Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon acting through its London Branch as Trustee, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form F-3, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture with respect to the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes which we expect to be dated as of the Issue Date (the “First Supplemental Indenture”) and a second supplemental indenture with respect to the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes which we expect to be dated as of the Issue Date (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”). References to the “Indenture” are to the Original Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes, and as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture with respect to the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes. The Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture will be filed as exhibits to a report on Form 6-K on or about August 10, 2015, which will be incorporated by reference in our registration statement on Form F-3.

 

The 2020 Contingent Capital Notes and the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes are separate series (each a “series”) of Contingent Capital Notes that have identical terms, except for their Interest Rates, First Call Dates and the margin above the Mid-Market Swap Rate, as described further below. References to Contingent Capital Notes in this “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes” shall be construed as references to the relevant series of Contingent Capital Notes, as the context may require. References to “holders” and “beneficial owners” should be construed as references to holders and beneficial owners of each series of Contingent Capital Notes offered in this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified.

 

If you purchase the Contingent Capital Notes, your rights will be determined by the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), unless your Contingent Capital Notes are converted to Settlement Shares after a Conversion Trigger Event as described under “—Conversion—Automatic Conversion” in which case your rights will be determined in accordance with the terms of our ordinary shares as described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Ordinary Shares”. You can read the Indenture and the form of Contingent Capital Notes at the location listed under “Where You Can Find More Information About Us”.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes and the Indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the Trust Indenture Act, except that, as the Indenture specifies, the subordination provisions and the waiver of the right to set-off by the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes and by the Trustee acting on behalf of the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Scotland. The terms of the Contingent Capital Notes include those stated in the Indenture and any supplements or amendments thereto, and those terms made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Bank of New York Mellon, acting through its London Branch, will serve as Trustee under the Indenture and will initially act as Paying Agent for the Contingent Capital Notes. RBS plc will initially act as Calculation Agent for the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The 2020 Contingent Capital Notes will be issued in an aggregate principal amount of up to $2,000,000,000.

 

The 2025 Contingent Capital Notes will be issued in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1,150,000,000.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are perpetual instruments with no fixed maturity or fixed redemption date.

 

General

 

We will issue the Contingent Capital Notes in fully registered form in denominations of $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter (the denomination of each book-entry interest being the “Tradable Amount”

 

 

of such book-entry interest). Prior to the Automatic Conversion (as defined below), the aggregate Tradable Amount of the book-entry interests in each Contingent Capital Note shall be equal to such Contingent Capital Note’s principal amount. Following the Automatic Conversion, the principal amount of each Contingent Capital Note shall be zero (as described below under “—Conversion—Conversion Procedures”) but the Tradable Amount of the book-entry interests in each Contingent Capital Note shall remain unchanged.

 

Upon issuance, each series of Contingent Capital Notes will be represented by one or more fully registered global notes (“Global Notes”). Each such Global Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). You will hold a beneficial interest in the Contingent Capital Notes through DTC and its participants. We expect to deliver the Contingent Capital Notes through the facilities of DTC on August 10, 2015. For a more detailed summary of the form of the Contingent Capital Notes and settlement and clearance arrangements, see “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Payment of principal of and interest, if any, on the Contingent Capital Notes, so long as the Contingent Capital Notes are represented by Global Notes, will be made in immediately available funds. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes will trade in the same-day funds settlement system of DTC and pay in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading activity in such interests will therefore settle in same-day funds. Secondary market trading will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and clearing system operating procedures of DTC, including those of its indirect participants, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. We currently expect such trading and settlement to continue in the period between the Conversion Date and the Suspension Date (each as defined below). Definitive securities will only be issued in limited circumstances described under “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities—Issuance of Definitive Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Interest

 

Subject to the provisions under “—Interest Cancellation”, “—Ranking and Liquidation Distribution”, “—Solvency Condition” and “—Conversion—Automatic Conversion”, from and including August 10, 2015 (the “Issue Date”) interest on the Contingent Capital Notes, if any, will be payable quarterly in arrear on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on September 30, 2015 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). The regular record dates for the Contingent Capital Notes will be the 15^th calendar day preceding each Interest Payment Date, whether or not such day is a Business Day (each, a “Record Date”). Payments of interest, if any, so payable, and paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, be paid to the person shown on the register for the relevant series of Contingent Capital Notes at the close of business on the Record Date.

 

If any scheduled Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, we will pay interest on the next Business Day, and no further interest or other payment shall be owed or made in respect of such delay. If any scheduled redemption date is not a Business Day, payment of interest, if any, and principal shall be postponed to the next Business Day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after any scheduled redemption date. If any Reset Date is not a Business Day, the Reset Date shall occur on the next Business Day.

 

Subject as set out above, if any interest payment is to be made in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes on any date other than an Interest Payment Date, including on any scheduled redemption date, it shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent by applying the interest rate as described above and multiplying the product by 30/360 and rounding the resulting figure to the nearest cent (half a cent being rounded upwards). For this purpose, “30/360” means, in respect of any period, the number of days in the relevant period, from and including the first day in such period to but excluding the last day in such period, such number of days being calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each, divided by 360.

 

Interest Terms Specific to the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes

 

From and including the Issue Date to but excluding August 10, 2020 (the “2020 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date”), interest will accrue on the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes at an initial rate equal to 7.500% per annum. The 2020 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date and every fifth anniversary thereafter shall be a “2020 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date”. From and including each 2020 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date to but excluding the next succeeding 2020 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date, interest will accrue on the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the then prevailing Mid-Market Swap Rate on the

 

 

relevant Reset Determination Date and 5.80%, converted to a quarterly rate in accordance with market convention (rounded to two decimal places, with 0.005 being rounded down).

 

Interest Terms Specific to the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes

 

From and including the Issue Date to but excluding August 10, 2025 (the “2025 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date”), interest will accrue on the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes at an initial rate equal to 8.000% per annum. The 2025 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date and every fifth anniversary thereafter shall be a “2025 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date”. From and including each 2025 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date to but excluding the next succeeding 2025 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date, interest will accrue on the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the then prevailing Mid-Market Swap Rate on the relevant Reset Determination Date and 5.72%, converted to a quarterly rate in accordance with market convention (rounded to two decimal places, with 0.005 being rounded down).

 

Interest Terms Common to Each Series of Contingent Capital Notes

 

The “First Call Date” shall mean the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date with respect to the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes and the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes First Call Date with respect to the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The “Mid-Market Swap Rate” is the mid-market U.S. dollar swap rate LIBOR basis having a five-year maturity appearing on Bloomberg page “USD ISDA 05” (or such other page as may replace such page on Bloomberg, or such other page or service as may be nominated by the person providing or sponsoring the information appearing on such page for purposes of displaying comparable rates) as at approximately 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the Reset Determination Date, as determined by the Calculation Agent. If such swap rate does not appear on such page (or such other page or service), the Mid-Market Swap Rate shall instead be determined by the Calculation Agent as being equal to the arithmetic mean expressed as a percentage and rounded, if necessary, to the nearest 0.001% (0.0005% being rounded upwards) of the quotations provided by the principal office of each of four major banks in the U.S. dollar swap rate market (which banks shall be selected by the Calculation Agent with our prior agreement not less than 20 calendar days prior to the Reset Determination Date) (the “Reference Banks”) of the rates at which swaps in U.S. dollars are offered by it at approximately 11.00 a.m. (New York time) (or thereafter on the Reset Determination Date, with the Calculation Agent acting on a best efforts basis) on the Reset Determination Date to participants in the U.S. dollar swap rate market for a five-year period. If the Mid-Market Swap Rate is still not determined on the relevant Reset Determination Date in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the Mid-Market Swap Rate shall be the mid-market U.S. dollar swap rate LIBOR basis having a five-year maturity that appeared on the most recent Bloomberg page “USD ISDA 05” (or such other page as may replace such page on Bloomberg, or such other page or service as may be nominated by the person providing or sponsoring the information appearing on such page for purposes of displaying comparable rates) that was last available prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the relevant Reset Determination Date, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

“Reset Date” means the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date with respect to the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes and the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes Reset Date with respect to the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The “Reset Determination Date” shall be the second Business Day immediately preceding the relevant Reset Date.

 

The term “Business Day” means any weekday, other than one on which banking institutions are authorised or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in London, England or in New York City.

 

Additional Issuances

 

We may from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the applicable series of Contingent Capital Notes, issue additional Contingent Capital Notes of such series under its Indenture, having the same ranking and same interest rate, interest cancellation terms, redemption terms, conversion price and other terms as the applicable series of Contingent Capital Notes described in this prospectus other than the price to the public and issue date of such Contingent Capital Notes offered hereby. There is no limitation on the amount of Contingent Capital Notes or other debt securities that we may issue under the applicable Indenture, and there is no restriction on our issuing securities that may have similar or different conversion trigger event provisions to the Contingent Capital Notes or no conversion trigger events. Any such additional Contingent Capital Notes of the applicable series, together with

 

 

the Contingent Capital Notes of such series offered by this prospectus supplement, shall rank equally and ratably with such Contingent Capital Notes in all respects, so that any such further Contingent Capital Notes shall be consolidated and form a single series with such Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Interest Cancellation

 

Interest Payments Discretionary

 

Subject to the solvency condition described under “—Solvency Condition” below, the availability of Distributable Items (as defined under “—Restrictions on Interest Payments” below), Automatic Conversion (as described under “—Conversion—Automatic Conversion”) and a Winding-up or Administration Event (as described under “—Ranking and Liquidation Distribution”), interest on the Contingent Capital Notes will be due and payable only at our sole discretion and we shall have sole and absolute discretion at all times and for any reason to cancel any interest payment in whole or in part that would otherwise be payable on any Interest Payment Date. If we elect not to make an interest payment on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or if we elect to make a payment of a portion, but not all, of such interest payment, such non-payment shall evidence our exercise of discretion to cancel such interest payment, or the portion of such interest payment not paid, and accordingly such interest payment, or portion thereof, shall not be or become due and payable.

 

Such cancelled interest shall not accumulate or be due and payable at any time thereafter and the holders and the beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes shall not have any right to or claim against us with respect to such interest amount. Any such cancellation shall not constitute a default and the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional interest or compensation as a result of such cancellation.

 

Because the Contingent Capital Notes are intended to qualify as Additional Tier 1 Capital under CRD IV (as defined therein), we may cancel, in whole or in part, any interest payment at our discretion and may pay dividends on our ordinary shares, B shares or preference shares notwithstanding such cancellation. In addition, we may use such cancelled payments without restriction to meet our other obligations as they become due.

 

In addition, the Contingent Capital Notes will cease to bear interest from, and including, the date of any redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes as described under “—Redemption and Repurchases” unless payment and performance of all amounts and obligations due by us in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes is not properly and duly made, in which event interest shall continue to accrue on the Contingent Capital Notes until payment and performance of all amounts and obligations has been properly and duly made.

 

Furthermore, in the event of the Automatic Conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event, as described under “—Conversion—Automatic Conversion” below, or a Winding-up or Administration Event (as defined under “—Ranking and Liquidation Distribution” below) any accrued but unpaid interest on the Contingent Capital Notes shall be cancelled upon the occurrence of such Conversion Trigger Event, or a Winding-up or Administration Event, as the case may be, and shall not become due and payable at any time.

 

See also “—Agreement to Interest Cancellation” and “—Notice of Interest Cancellation” below.

 

Restrictions on Interest Payments

 

We shall cancel any interest (or such interest shall be deemed to be cancelled) on the Contingent Capital Notes (or, as appropriate, any part thereof) which is scheduled to be paid on an Interest Payment Date if:

 

(a)

we have an amount of Distributable Items on such scheduled Interest Payment Date that is less than the sum of (i) all payments (other than redemption payments which do not reduce Distributable Items) made or declared by us since the end of our latest financial year and prior to such Interest Payment Date on or in respect of any Parity Securities, the Contingent Capital Notes and any Junior Securities (as defined below) and (ii) all payments (other than redemption payments which do not reduce Distributable Items) payable by us on such Interest Payment Date (x) on the Contingent Capital Notes and (y) on or in respect of any Parity Securities or any Junior Securities, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), excluding any payments already accounted for in determining the Distributable Items; or

 

 

(b)

the Solvency Condition (as described under “Solvency Condition” below) is not (or would not be) satisfied in respect of such amounts payable on such Interest Payment Date.

 

See also “—Agreement to Interest Cancellation” and “—Notice of Interest Cancellation” below.

 

“Distributable Items” means subject as otherwise defined in, and/or interpreted in accordance with, the Capital Regulations applicable to us from time to time, the amount of our profits at the end of the latest financial year plus any profits brought forward and reserves available for that purpose before distributions to holders of the Contingent Capital Notes, any Parity Securities and Junior Securities less any losses brought forward, profits which are non-distributable pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 (UK) (the “Companies Act”) or any other provisions of English law from time to time applicable to us or our Memorandum and Articles of Association from time to time (together, our “Articles of Association”) and sums placed to non-distributable reserves in accordance with the Companies Act or other provisions of English law from time to time applicable to us or our Articles of Association, those losses and reserves being determined on the basis of our individual accounts and not on the basis of our consolidated accounts.

 

“Capital Regulations” means, at any time, the laws, regulations, requirements, guidelines and policies of the PRA and/or the European Parliament or of the Council of the European Union relating to capital adequacy for credit institutions (including, without limitation, as to leverage) then in effect as applicable to us or the Regulatory Group (as defined below) including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, any delegated or implementing acts (such as regulatory technical standards) adopted by the European Commission and any regulations, requirements, guidelines and policies relating to capital adequacy adopted by the PRA, from time to time (whether or not such requirements, guidelines or policies are applied generally or specifically to us or to the Regulatory Group).

 

“CRD IV” means, taken together, (i) the CRD IV Directive, (ii) the CRD IV Regulation and (iii) the Capital Regulations.

 

“CRD IV Directive” means Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 26, 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC, and any successor directive.

 

“CRD IV Regulation” means Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 26, 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms amending Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012, and any successor regulation.

 

“Junior Securities” means (i) our ordinary shares or other securities of ours ranking, or expressed to rank, junior to the Contingent Capital Notes in a Winding-up or Administration Event (as defined under “—Ranking and Liquidation Distribution” below) and/or (ii) any securities issued by any other member of our Group where the terms of such securities benefit from a guarantee or support agreement entered into by us which ranks, or is expressed to rank, junior to the Contingent Capital Notes in a Winding-up or Administration Event.

 

“Parity Securities” means (i) the most senior ranking class or classes of non-cumulative preference shares in our capital from time to time and any other of our securities ranking, or expressed to rank, pari passu with the Contingent Capital Notes and/or such preference shares following a Winding-up or Administration Event and/or (ii) any securities issued by any other member of our Group where the terms of the securities benefit from a guarantee or support agreement entered into by us which ranks or is expressed to rank pari passu with the Contingent Capital Notes and/or such preference shares following a Winding-up or Administration Event.

 

“PRA” means the Prudential Regulation Authority or such other governmental authority having primary supervisory authority with respect to the prudential regulation of our business.

 

Agreement to Interest Cancellation

 

By acquiring the Contingent Capital Notes, holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes acknowledge and agree that:

 

(a)

interest is payable solely at our discretion, and no amount of interest shall become due and payable in

 

 

respect of the relevant interest period to the extent that it has been cancelled by us at our sole discretion and/or deemed cancelled as a result of our having insufficient Distributable Items or failing to satisfy the Solvency Condition; and

 

(b)

a cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (in each case, in whole or in part) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Contingent Capital Notes shall not constitute a default in payment or otherwise under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes or the Indenture.

 

Interest will only be due and payable on an Interest Payment Date to the extent it is not cancelled or deemed cancelled in accordance with the provisions described under “—Interest Cancellation”, “—Solvency Condition”, “—Ranking and Liquidation Distribution” and “—Conversion—Automatic Conversion”. Any interest cancelled or deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) in the circumstances described herein shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter, and holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional interest or compensation as a result of such cancellation or deemed cancellation.

 

Notice of Interest Cancellation

 

If practicable, we will provide notice of any cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (in each case, in whole or in part) to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes through DTC (or, if the Contingent Capital Notes are held in definitive form, to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes directly at their addresses shown on the register for the Contingent Capital Notes) and to the Trustee directly on or prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date. Failure to provide such notice will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest (and accordingly, such interest will not be due and payable), or give the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes any rights as a result of such failure.

 

Ranking and Liquidation Distribution

 

The Contingent Capital Notes will constitute our direct, unsecured and subordinated obligations, ranking pari passu without any preference among themselves. The rights and claims of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes in respect of, or arising from, the Contingent Capital Notes (including any damages, if payable) will be subordinated to the claims of our Senior Creditors (as defined below).

 

If:

 

(i) an order is made, or an effective resolution is passed, for our winding-up (excluding in each such case, a solvent winding-up solely for the purposes of our reconstruction, amalgamation, reorganization, merger or consolidation or the substitution in our place of a successor in business, the terms of which have previously been approved by the Trustee or in writing by holders of the Contingent Capital Notes of not less than 2/3 (two-thirds) in aggregate principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes); or

 

(ii) an administrator is appointed for us and such administrator gives notice that it intends to declare and distribute a dividend

 

(each, respectively, or together, a “Winding-up or Administration Event”), then (a) if any such events specified in paragraphs (i) or (ii) above occur before the date on which a Conversion Trigger Event occurs, there shall be payable by us in respect of each Contingent Capital Note (in lieu of any other payment by us) such amount, if any, as would have been payable to a holder or beneficial owner of Contingent Capital Notes if, on the day prior to the commencement of our winding-up or the notice by the administrator and thereafter, such holder or beneficial owner of Contingent Capital Notes were the holder of one of a class of Notional Preference Shares (as defined below) on the assumption that the amount that such holder or beneficial owner of Contingent Capital Notes was entitled to receive in respect of such Notional Preference Shares on a return of assets in such Winding-up or Administration Event was an amount equal to the principal amount of the relevant Contingent Capital Note, together with any Accrued Interest (as defined below) and any damages (if payable), regardless of whether the Solvency Condition is satisfied on the date upon which the same would otherwise be due and payable and (b) if any such events specified in paragraphs (i) or (ii) above occur on or after the date on which a Conversion Trigger Event occurs but the Settlement Shares to be issued and delivered to the Settlement Share Depository on the Conversion Date have not been so delivered, there shall be payable by us in respect of each Contingent Capital Note (in lieu of any other payment by us) such amount, if any, as would have been payable to the holder or beneficial owner of such

 

 

Contingent Capital Note in a Winding-up or Administration Event if the Conversion Date in respect of the Automatic Conversion had occurred immediately before the occurrence of a Winding-up or Administration Event (and, as a result, such holder or beneficial owner were the holder of such number of our ordinary shares as such holder or beneficial owner would have been entitled to receive on the Conversion Date, ignoring for this purpose our right to make an election for a Settlement Shares Offer to be effected), regardless of whether the Solvency Condition is satisfied on the date upon which the same would otherwise be due and payable.

 

“commencement” means, in relation to our winding-up, the date on which such winding-up commences, or is deemed to commence, determined in accordance with Section 86 or 129 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

 

“Notional Preference Shares” means an actual or notional class of preference shares in our capital having an equal right to return of assets in our winding-up or administration to, and so ranking pari passu with, the most senior class or classes of issued preference shares with non-cumulative dividends (if any) in our capital from time to time and which have a preferential right to a return of assets in the winding-up or administration over, and so rank ahead of, all other classes of issued shares for the time being in our capital but ranking junior to the claims of Senior Creditors and junior to any notional class of preference shares in our capital which is referenced in any of our instruments for the purposes of determining a claim in our winding-up or administration, and, as so referenced, (i) is expressed to have a preferential right to a return of assets in our winding-up or administration over the holders of all other classes of shares for the time-being in our capital and (ii) is not expressed to rank junior to any other notional class of preference shares in our capital.

 

“Senior Creditors” means our creditors (i) who are unsubordinated creditors, (ii) whose claims are, or are expressed to be, subordinated (whether only in the event of a Winding-up or Administration Event or otherwise) to the claims of our other unsubordinated creditors but not further or otherwise, or (iii) who are our subordinated creditors (whether as aforesaid or otherwise), other than those whose claims rank, or are expressed to rank, pari passu with, or junior to, the claims of holders of the Contingent Capital Notes and/or pari passu with or junior to any claims ranking pari passu with the claims of holders of the Contingent Capital Notes, in each case, in a Winding-up or Administration Event occurring prior to a Conversion Trigger Event.

 

As a consequence of these subordination provisions, if a Winding-up or Administration Event occurs, each holder of Contingent Capital Notes may recover less ratably than the holders of our unsubordinated liabilities and the holders of certain of our subordinated liabilities. If upon any Winding-up or Administration Event the amount payable on the Contingent Capital Notes and any claims ranking equally with them are not paid in full, the Contingent Capital Notes and other claims ranking equally will share ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the respective amounts to which they are entitled. If any holder is entitled to any recovery with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes, the holder might not be entitled in those proceedings to a recovery in U.S. dollars and might be entitled only to a recovery in pounds sterling or any other lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

In addition, because we are a holding company, our rights to participate in the assets of any subsidiary if such subsidiary is liquidated will be subject to the prior claims of its creditors and in the case of bank subsidiaries, their depositors, except to the extent that we may be a creditor with recognised claims against the subsidiary.

 

Solvency Condition

 

Other than in the event of a Winding-up or Administration Event or in relation to the cash component of any Alternative Consideration (as defined below) in any Settlement Shares Offer, payments in respect of or arising under the Contingent Capital Notes (including any damages for breach of any obligations thereunder) are, in addition to our right to cancel payments of interest as described under “—Interest Cancellation”, conditional upon our being solvent at the time when the relevant payment is due to be made and no principal, interest or other amount payable shall be due and payable in respect of or arising from the Contingent Capital Notes, except to the extent that we could make such payment and still be solvent immediately thereafter (such condition is referred to herein as the “Solvency Condition”).

 

For the purposes of determining whether the Solvency Condition is met, we shall be considered to be solvent at a particular point in time if:

 

(i) we are able to pay our debts as they fall due; and

 

 

(ii) our Assets are at least equal to our Liabilities.

 

“Assets” means our unconsolidated gross assets, as shown in our latest published audited balance sheet, adjusted for subsequent events in such manner as our directors may determine.

 

“Liabilities” means our unconsolidated gross liabilities, as shown in the latest published audited balance sheet, adjusted for contingent liabilities and prospective liabilities and for subsequent events in such manner as our directors may determine.

 

An officer’s certificate (which shall only be required if, at the relevant time, we have not satisfied the Solvency Condition and we are relying on that fact as the basis for not making a payment on the Contingent Capital Notes) as to our solvency shall, unless there is manifest error, be treated and accepted by us, the Trustee and any holder of the Contingent Capital Notes as correct and sufficient evidence that the Solvency Condition is not satisfied. If we fail to make a payment because the Solvency Condition is not satisfied, this payment shall not be or become due and payable and shall be deemed cancelled.

 

Any payment of interest not due by reason of the provisions described above shall be deemed cancelled. See also “—Agreement to Interest Cancellation” and “—Notice of Interest Cancellation” above.

 

Waiver of Right to Set-Off

 

By acquiring a Contingent Capital Note, each holder (and the Trustee acting on behalf of the holders) will be deemed to have waived any right of set-off, counterclaim or combination of accounts with respect to such Contingent Capital Note or the Indenture (or between our obligations under or in respect of any Contingent Capital Note and any liability owed by a holder) that they (or the Trustee acting on their behalf) might otherwise have against us, whether before or during any Winding-up or Administration Event. Notwithstanding the above, if any such rights and claims of any such holder (or the Trustee acting on behalf of such holder) against us are discharged by set-off, such holder (or the Trustee acting on behalf of such holder) will immediately pay an amount equal to the amount of such discharge to us or, in the event of a Winding-up or Administration Event, our liquidator or administrator (or other relevant insolvency official), as the case may be, to be held on trust for Senior Creditors, and until such time as payment is made will hold a sum equal to such amount in trust for Senior Creditors, and accordingly such discharge shall be deemed not to have taken place.

 

Additional Amounts

 

All amounts of principal and interest, if any, on the Contingent Capital Notes will be paid by us without deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any and all present and future income, stamp and other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein having the power to tax (the “Taxing Jurisdiction”), unless such deduction or withholding is required by law.

 

If deduction or withholding of any such taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings shall at any time be required by the Taxing Jurisdiction, we will pay such additional amounts in respect of the payment of any interest on (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of the payment of the principal amount of) the Contingent Capital Notes (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that the net amounts in respect of any interest paid to the holders of Contingent Capital Notes, after such deduction or withholding, shall equal the amount of any interest which would have been payable in respect of such Contingent Capital Notes had no such deduction or withholding been required; provided, however, that the foregoing will not apply to any such tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, fee, deduction or withholding that would not have been payable or due but for the fact that:

 

(i) the holder or the beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Note is a domiciliary, national or resident of, or engaging in business or maintaining a permanent establishment or physically present in, the Taxing Jurisdiction or otherwise has some connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction other than the mere holding or ownership of a Contingent Capital Note, or the collection of any payment of (or in respect of) any interest on the Contingent Capital Notes,

 

(ii) except in the case of a winding-up of us in the United Kingdom, the Contingent Capital Note is presented (where presentation is required) for payment in the United Kingdom,

 

 

(iii) the Contingent Capital Note is presented (where presentation is required) for payment more than 30 days after the date payment became due or was provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to such Additional Amount on presenting (where presentation is required) the Contingent Capital Note for payment at the close of such 30 day period,

 

(iv) the holder or the beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Note or the beneficial owner of any payment of (or in respect of) any interest on such Contingent Capital Note failed to comply with a request by us or our liquidator or other authorized person addressed to the holder (x) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or such beneficial owner or (y) to make any declaration or other similar claim, which in the case of (x) or (y), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the Taxing Jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption or relief from all or part of such deduction or withholding,

 

(v) the withholding or deduction is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any Directive amending, supplementing or replacing such Directive, or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive or Directives,

 

(vi) the withholding or deduction is required to be made pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, any agreement with the U.S. Treasury entered into with respect thereto, any U.S. Treasury regulation issued thereunder or any other official interpretations or guidance issued with respect thereto; any intergovernmental agreement entered into with respect thereto, or any law, regulation, or other official interpretation or guidance promulgated pursuant to such an intergovernmental agreement,

 

(vii) the Contingent Capital Note is presented (where presentation is required) for payment by or on behalf of a holder who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting (where presentation is required) the Contingent Capital Note to another paying agent in a Member State of the European Union, or

 

(viii) any combination of subclauses (i) through (vii) above,

 

nor shall Additional Amounts be paid with respect to a payment of any interest on the Contingent Capital Note to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the Taxing Jurisdiction to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts, had it been the holder.

 

Whenever in this prospectus supplement there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of any interest on, or in respect of, any Contingent Capital Note, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this “Additional Amounts” section to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this section and as if express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) were made in any provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Redemption and Repurchases

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are perpetual securities in respect of which there is no fixed redemption date or maturity date. Holders may not require any redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes at any time.

 

Optional Redemption

 

The Contingent Capital Notes will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described under “—Pre-conditions to Redemptions and Repurchases” below, be redeemable in whole, but not in part, at our option and in our sole discretion, on the First Call Date or on any Reset Date thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the Contingent Capital Notes, excluding any interest which has been cancelled or deemed to be cancelled in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes as described under “—Interest Cancellation” above (“Accrued Interest”) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

 

Notice of any optional redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes will be given to holders not less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days in advance in accordance with “—Pre-conditions to Redemptions and Repurchases” and “—Notice of Redemption” below, and to the Trustee at least five (5) Business Days prior to such date, unless a

 

 

shorter notice period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. Except as otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be irrevocable.

 

Tax Redemption

 

If at any time a Tax Event has occurred and is continuing, we may, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described under “—Pre-conditions to Redemptions and Repurchases” and “—Notice of Redemption” below, at our option and in our sole discretion redeem the Contingent Capital Notes in whole but not in part at any time at 100% of their principal amount, together with any Accrued Interest to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

 

A “Tax Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes if, at any time, we shall determine that, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of the UK or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein having power to tax (including any treaty to which the UK or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein is a party), or any change in the official application of such laws or regulations (including a decision of any court or tribunal or the application by any tax authority), which change or amendment becomes effective or applicable, or, in the case of a change in or amendment to law, where such change or amendment is enacted by a UK Act of Parliament or by a Statutory Instrument, if such UK Act of Parliament or Statutory Instruments is enacted, on or after the Issue Date:

 

(a)

in making a payment under the Contingent Capital Notes in respect of interest, we have or will or would on the next Interest Payment Date become obligated to pay Additional Amounts;

 

(b)

a payment of interest on the next Interest Payment Date in respect of any of the Contingent Capital Notes would be treated as a “distribution” within the meaning of Section 1000 of the UK Corporation Tax Act 2010 (or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being);

 

(c)

we would not be entitled to claim a deduction in respect of a payment of interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date in computing its UK taxation liabilities (or the value of such deduction to us would be materially reduced);

 

(d)

as a result of the Contingent Capital Notes being in issue, we would not be able to have losses or deductions (including in respect of a payment of interest on the Contingent Capital Notes) set against the profits or gains, or profits or gains offset by losses or deductions, of companies with which it is or would otherwise be grouped for applicable UK tax purposes (whether under the group relief system current as at the date of issue of the Contingent Capital Notes or any similar system or systems having like effect as may exist from time to time);

 

(e)

a future write-down of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes or conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes into ordinary shares would result in a UK tax liability, or income, profit or gain being treated for UK tax purposes as accruing, arising or being received;

 

(f)

the Contingent Capital Notes would no longer be treated as loan relationships for UK tax purposes; or

 

(g)

the Contingent Capital Notes or any part thereof would be treated as a derivative or an embedded derivative for UK tax purposes,

 

in each case, the effect of which cannot be avoided by us taking reasonable steps available to us.

 

In any case where we determine that, as a result of a Tax Event, we are entitled to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes, we shall be required to deliver to the Trustee prior to the giving of any notice of redemption a written legal opinion of independent UK counsel of recognised standing (selected by us), in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, confirming that the relevant Tax Event has occurred.

 

Redemption Due to a Capital Disqualification Event

 

If at any time a Capital Disqualification Event occurs and is continuing, we may, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described under “—Pre-conditions to Redemptions and Repurchases” and “—Notice of Redemption” below, at our option and in our sole discretion, redeem the Contingent Capital Notes in whole but not in part at any time at 100% of their principal amount, together with any Accrued Interest to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

 

 

A “Capital Disqualification Event” shall occur if we determine that, as a result of any amendment to, or a change in the regulatory classification of the Contingent Capital Notes under the Capital Regulations (or official interpretation thereof), in any such case becoming effective on or after the Issue Date, the Contingent Capital Notes are, or are likely to be, fully excluded from our Tier 1 Capital (as defined in the Capital Regulations) or the Tier 1 Capital of the Regulatory Group.

 

“Regulatory Group” means us, our subsidiary undertakings, participations, participating interests and any subsidiary undertakings, participations or participating interests held (directly or indirectly) by any of our subsidiary undertakings from time to time and any other undertakings from time to time consolidated with us for regulatory purposes, in each case in accordance with the rules and guidance of the PRA then in effect.

 

Repurchases

 

We may at any time and from time to time and to the extent not prohibited by CRD IV repurchase beneficially or procure others to repurchase beneficially for our account the Contingent Capital Notes in the open market, by tender or by private agreement in any manner and at any price or at differing prices. Contingent Capital Notes purchased or otherwise acquired by us may be (i) held, (ii) resold or (iii) at our sole discretion, surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation (in which case all Contingent Capital Notes so surrendered will forthwith be cancelled in accordance with applicable law and thereafter may not be reissued or resold). Any such purchases will be subject to the conditions set forth under “—Pre-conditions to Redemptions and Repurchases”.

 

Pre-conditions to Redemptions and Repurchases

 

As of the date hereof we may only redeem or repurchase the Contingent Capital Notes as described above provided that (except to the extent that the PRA no longer so requires) we have met the following conditions:

 

(1) we have notified the PRA of our intention to do so at least one month (or such other, longer or shorter period, as the PRA may then require or accept) before we become committed to the proposed redemption or repurchase;

 

(2) the PRA having granted permission for us to make any such redemption or repurchase of the Contingent Capital Notes upon a satisfactory finding that either:

 

(i) on or before such redemption or repurchase of any of the Contingent Capital Notes, we replace such Contingent Capital Notes with own funds instruments (as defined by the Capital Regulations) of an equal or higher quality on terms that are sustainable for our income capacity; or

 

(ii) we have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the PRA that our Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital (as defined by the Capital Regulations) would, following such redemption or repurchase, exceed the capital ratios required under the CRD IV Regulation and the combined buffer requirement defined in the CRD IV Directive by a margin that the PRA may consider necessary on the basis set out in the CRD IV Directive for it to determine the appropriate level of capital of an institution; and

 

(3) no Conversion Trigger Notice having been delivered; and

 

(4) we have complied with any additional or alternative pre-conditions as set out in the relevant Capital Regulations and/or required by the PRA as a prerequisite to its consent to such redemptions or repurchases, at the time.

 

In addition, as of the date hereof, under the CRD IV rules, we may only redeem the Contingent Capital Notes before five years after the date of issuance of the Contingent Capital Notes, provided that (except to the extent that the PRA no longer so requires) the following conditions are met:

 

(1) the pre-conditions listed in (1), (2), (3) and (4) above are met; and

 

(2) in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a Capital Disqualification Event, as described under “Redemption Due to a Capital Disqualification Event” above (i) the PRA considers such change to be sufficiently

 

 

certain and (ii) we demonstrate to the satisfaction of the PRA that the Capital Disqualification Event was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of the issuance of the Contingent Capital Notes; or

 

(3) in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a Tax Event as described under “—Tax Redemption”, we demonstrate to the satisfaction of the PRA that the Tax Event relating to the Contingent Capital Notes is material and was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of issuance of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Notice of Redemption

 

If we elect to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes at our option or due to the occurrence of a Tax Event or a Capital Disqualification Event we will give holders not less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days’ notice in accordance with “—Notice” below, and to the Trustee at least five (5) Business Days prior to such date, unless a shorter notice period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. Except as otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be irrevocable.

 

Any redemption notice will state:

 

·

the redemption date;

 

·

that on the redemption date the redemption price will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Indenture as described in this prospectus supplement, and as set forth above, become due and payable upon each Contingent Capital Note being redeemed and that, subject to certain exceptions, interest will cease to accrue on or after that date;

 

·

the place or places where the Contingent Capital Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and

 

·

the CUSIP, Common Code and/or ISIN number or numbers, if any, with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes being redeemed.

 

If we have elected to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes but the Solvency Condition is not (or would not be) satisfied in respect of the relevant redemption payment immediately prior to, and immediately following, the date specified for redemption in such notice, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

 

If we have elected to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes but prior to the payment of the redemption amount with respect to such redemption a Conversion Trigger Event occurs, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable and an Automatic Conversion shall occur as described under “—Automatic Conversion” below.

 

If we have elected to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes but prior to the payment of the redemption amount with respect to such redemption the relevant UK resolution authority exercises its UK bail-in power with respect to us, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

 

If we have elected to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes, but prior to the date of any such redemption we have not given notice to the PRA and/or the PRA has objected to or refused to grant us permission, as applicable, to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes (in each case to the extent and in the manner required by the relevant Capital Regulations), the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

 

If we have elected to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes, but in respect of any redemption proposed to be made prior to the fifth anniversary of the Issue Date (if and to the extent then required under the Capital Regulations) (i) in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a Capital Disqualification Event, the PRA does not consider such change to be sufficiently certain and/or we have not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the PRA that the relevant change was not reasonably foreseeable as at the Issue Date or (ii) in the case of redemption due to the occurrence of a Tax Event, we have not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the PRA that the Tax Event is material and was not reasonably foreseeable as at the Issue Date; the relevant redemption notice shall be

 

 

automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

 

If we have elected to redeem the Contingent Capital Notes, but prior to the payment of the redemption amount with respect to such redemption, we are not in compliance with any alternative or additional pre-conditions required by the PRA as a pre-requisite to its consent to such redemption, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

 

Conversion

 

Automatic Conversion

 

Upon the occurrence of the Conversion Trigger Event, each Contingent Capital Note shall, on the Conversion Date (as defined below), be converted in whole and not in part into ordinary shares credited as fully paid (the “Settlement Shares”) at the Conversion Price (as defined below) and in accordance with the terms set forth herein. The Settlement Shares shall be issued and delivered to the Settlement Share Depository (as defined below) (on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners) on the Conversion Date, in consideration for which all of our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes shall be irrevocably and automatically released (the “Automatic Conversion”), and under no circumstances shall our released obligations be reinstated. Once a Contingent Capital Note has been converted into Settlement Shares, there is no provision for the reconversion of such Settlement Shares back into Contingent Capital Notes. The Contingent Capital Notes are not convertible at the option of the holders at any time. Automatic Conversion shall not constitute a default under the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

If we have been unable to appoint a Settlement Share Depository, we shall make such other arrangements for the issuance and delivery of the Settlement Shares or of the Alternative Consideration, as applicable, to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes as we shall consider reasonable in the circumstances, which may include issuing and delivering the Settlement Shares or any Alternative Consideration, as applicable, to another independent nominee or to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes directly, which issuance and delivery of the Settlement Shares or any Alternative Consideration, as applicable, shall irrevocably and automatically release all of our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes as if the Settlement Shares had been issued and delivered to the Settlement Share Depository, and, in which case, where the context so admits, references in the Contingent Capital Notes and the Indenture to the issue and delivery of Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository shall be construed accordingly and apply mutatis mutandis. Where practicable, we shall make such other arrangements to allow holders, if they so elect, to take delivery of their Settlement Shares in the form of ADSs.

 

“CET1 Capital” means the sum, expressed in pounds sterling, of all amounts that constitute Common Equity Tier 1 Capital of the Regulatory Group, less any deductions from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital of the Regulatory Group required to be made, in each case as calculated by us on a consolidated and fully loaded basis in accordance with the Capital Regulations applicable to the Regulatory Group as at that point in time (which calculation shall be binding on the Trustee and holders of the Contingent Capital Notes).

 

“CET1 Ratio” means the ratio of CET1 Capital to Risk Weighted Assets expressed as a percentage and on the basis that all measures used in such calculation shall be calculated on a fully loaded basis.

 

“Common Equity Tier 1 Capital” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in CRD IV (as the same may be amended or replaced from time to time) as interpreted and applied in accordance with the Capital Regulations then applicable to the Regulatory Group.

 

The “Conversion Date” shall be the date specified in the Conversion Trigger Notice and shall occur without delay upon, and in any event within one month of, the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event.

 

A “Conversion Trigger Event” shall occur at any point in time at which the CET1 Ratio is less than 7.00%.

 

“fully loaded” means, in relation to a measure that is presented or described as being on a “fully loaded basis”, that such measure is calculated without applying the transitional provisions set out in Part Ten of the CRD IV Regulation (as it may be amended from time to time).

 

 

“Risk Weighted Assets” means the aggregate amount, expressed in pounds sterling, of the risk weighted assets of the Regulatory Group, as calculated by us on a consolidated and fully loaded basis in accordance with the Capital Regulations applicable to the Regulatory Group (which calculation shall be binding on the Trustee and the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes) and where the term “risk weighted assets” means the risk weighted assets or total risk exposure amount, as calculated by us in accordance with the Capital Regulations applicable to the Regulatory Group as at that point in time.

 

Following the occurrence of the Conversion Trigger Event, we shall deliver notice thereof to the Trustee and the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes (the “Conversion Trigger Notice”) in accordance with “—Notice” below without delay after such a Conversion Trigger Event (and in any event within such period as the PRA may require). The date on which the Conversion Trigger Notice shall be deemed to have been given shall be the date on which it is dispatched by us to DTC (or if the Contingent Capital Notes are held in definitive form, to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes directly).

 

Upon our determination that a Conversion Trigger Event has occurred, we shall immediately inform the PRA and shall, prior to giving a Conversion Trigger Notice, deliver to the Trustee a certificate stating that a Conversion Trigger Event has occurred, which the Trustee shall accept without any further enquiry as sufficient evidence of such matters, in which event such certificate will be conclusive and binding on the Trustee, the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The Conversion Trigger Notice shall specify (i) that a Conversion Trigger Event has occurred and the CET1 Ratio resulting in such Conversion Trigger Event, (ii) the Conversion Date, (iii) the then-prevailing Conversion Price (which Conversion Price shall remain subject to any subsequent adjustment as set forth under “—Anti-dilution Adjustment of the Conversion Price” below up to the Conversion Date), (iv) the contact details of any Settlement Share Depository, or, if we have been unable to appoint a Settlement Share Depository, such other arrangements for the issuance and/or delivery of the Settlement Shares, or, if the holder elects, ADSs or any Alternative Consideration to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes as we shall consider reasonable in the circumstances, (v) that we have the option, at our sole and absolute discretion, to elect that a Settlement Shares Offer be conducted and that we will, if we so elect, issue a Settlement Shares Offer Notice within 10 Business Days following the Conversion Date notifying the Contingent Capital Notes holders of our election, and (vi) the Suspension Date and that the Contingent Capital Notes shall remain in existence for the sole purpose of evidencing the holder’s or beneficial owner’s right to receive Settlement Shares, or, if the holder elects, ADSs or the Alternative Consideration, as applicable, from the Settlement Share Depository and that the Contingent Capital Notes may continue to be transferable until the Suspension Date.

 

Promptly following its receipt of the Conversion Trigger Notice, pursuant to DTC’s procedures currently in effect, DTC will post the Conversion Trigger Notice to its Reorganization Inquiry for Participants System and within two (2) Business Days of its receipt of the Conversion Trigger Notice, the Trustee shall transmit the Conversion Trigger Notice to the direct participants of DTC holding the Contingent Capital Notes at such time.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, once we have delivered a Conversion Trigger Notice following the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event, (i) subject to the right of holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes relating to a breach of Performance Obligation (as defined below) in the event of a failure by us to issue and deliver any Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository on the Conversion Date, the Indenture shall impose no duties upon the Trustee whatsoever with regard to an Automatic Conversion upon a Conversion Trigger Event and the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes shall have no rights whatsoever under the Indenture or the Contingent Capital Notes to instruct the Trustee to take any action whatsoever and (ii) as of the date of the Conversion Trigger Notice, except for any indemnity and/or security provided by any holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes in such direction or related to such direction, any direction previously given to the Trustee by any holders of the Contingent Capital Notes shall cease automatically and shall be null and void and of no further effect; except in each case of (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, with respect to any rights of holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes with respect to any payments under the Contingent Capital Notes that were unconditionally due and payable prior to the date of the Conversion Trigger Notice or unless the Trustee is instructed in writing by us to act otherwise.

 

Our obligations to indemnify the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.07 of the Original Indenture shall survive any Automatic Conversion.

 

 

Settlement Shares

 

The number of Settlement Shares to be issued to the Settlement Share Depository on the Conversion Date will be determined by dividing the aggregate principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes outstanding immediately prior to the Automatic Conversion on the Conversion Date (the “Outstanding Amount”) by the Conversion Price prevailing on the Conversion Date. The number of Settlement Shares to be delivered to each holder shall be rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole number of Settlement Shares. Fractions of Settlement Shares will not be delivered to the Settlement Share Depository following the Automatic Conversion, and no cash payment will be made in lieu thereof. The number of Settlement Shares to be held by the Settlement Share Depository for the benefit of each holder shall equal the number of Settlement Shares thus calculated multiplied by a fraction equal to (i) the Tradable Amount of the book-entry interests in the Contingent Capital Notes held by such holder on the Conversion Date divided by (ii) the Outstanding Amount rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole number of Settlement Shares.

 

The Settlement Shares issued upon Automatic Conversion will be fully paid and non-assessable and will in all respects rank pari passu with the ordinary shares in issue on the Conversion Date, except in any such case for any right excluded by mandatory provisions of applicable law, and provided that any Settlement Shares so issued will not rank for (or, as the case may be, the relevant holder or beneficial owner shall not be entitled to receive) any rights the Record Date for entitlement to which falls prior to the Conversion Date. For as long as the Settlement Shares are held by the Settlement Share Depository, each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes shall be entitled to direct the Settlement Share Depository to exercise on its behalf all rights of an ordinary shareholder (including voting rights and rights to receive dividends) except that holders and beneficial owners shall not be able to sell or otherwise transfer such Settlement Shares unless and until such time as they have been delivered to holders in accordance with “—Settlement Procedures” below.

 

Conversion Price

 

The conversion price per ordinary share in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes shall be $3.606, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments described under “—Anti-dilution Adjustment of the Conversion Price” below (the “Conversion Price”).

 

Anti-dilution Adjustment of the Conversion Price

 

References to the Conversion Price below shall be deemed to include the Settlement Shares Offer Price. References to the Conversion Price and ordinary shares below shall be deemed in connection with a Qualifying Takeover Event to include any New Conversion Price and any Relevant Shares, such that any New Conversion Price shall be subject to price adjustments upon the occurrence of the events below, subject to any modifications as an Independent Financial Adviser shall determine to be appropriate.

 

Upon the occurrence of any of the events described below, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted as follows:

 

(i)

If and whenever there shall be a consolidation, reclassification, redesignation or subdivision in relation to the ordinary shares which alters the number of ordinary shares in issue, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in force immediately prior to such consolidation, reclassification, redesignation or subdivision by the following fraction:

 

A B

 

where:

 

A

is the aggregate number of ordinary shares in issue immediately before such consolidation, reclassification, redesignation or subdivision, as the case may be; and

 

B

is the aggregate number of ordinary shares in issue immediately after, and as a result of, such consolidation, reclassification, redesignation or subdivision, as the case may be.

 

 

Such adjustment shall become effective on the date that the consolidation, reclassification, redesignation or subdivision, as the case may be, takes effect.

 

(ii)

If and whenever we shall issue any ordinary shares to our existing shareholders credited as fully paid by way of capitalization of profits or reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) other than (1) where any such ordinary shares are or are to be issued instead of the whole or part of a Cash Dividend which our shareholders would or could otherwise have elected to receive, (2) where our shareholders may elect to receive a Cash Dividend in lieu of such ordinary shares or (3) where any such ordinary shares are or are expressed to be issued in lieu of a dividend (whether or not a Cash Dividend equivalent or amount is announced or would otherwise be payable to our shareholders, whether at their election or otherwise), the Conversion Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in force immediately prior to such issue by the following fraction:

 

A B

 

where:

 

A

is the aggregate number of ordinary shares in issue immediately before such issue; and

 

B

is the aggregate number of ordinary shares in issue immediately after such issue.

 

Such adjustment shall become effective on the date of issue of such ordinary shares.

 

(iii)

If and whenever we shall pay any Extraordinary Dividend to our shareholders, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in force immediately prior to the Effective Date by the following fraction:

 

A – B    A

 

where:

 

A

is the Current Market Price of one ordinary share on the Effective Date; and

 

B

is the portion of the aggregate Extraordinary Dividend attributable to one ordinary share, with such portion being determined by dividing the aggregate Extraordinary Dividend by the number of ordinary shares entitled to receive the relevant Extraordinary Dividend. If the Extraordinary Dividend shall be expressed in a currency other than the Relevant Currency, it shall be converted into the Relevant Currency at the Prevailing Rate on the relevant Effective Date.

 

Such adjustment shall become effective on the Effective Date.

 

“Effective Date” means, in respect of this sub-paragraph (iii), the first date on which the ordinary shares are traded ex-the Extraordinary Dividend on the Relevant Stock Exchange.

 

“Extraordinary Dividend” means any Cash Dividend that is expressly declared by us to be a capital distribution, extraordinary dividend, extraordinary distribution, special dividend, special distribution or return of value to our shareholders as a class, or any analogous or similar term, in which case the Extraordinary Dividend shall be such Cash Dividend.

 

“Cash Dividend” means any dividend or distribution in respect of the ordinary shares which is to be paid or made to our shareholders as a class in cash (in whatever currency) and however described and whether payable out of share premium account, profits, retained earnings or any other capital or revenue reserve or account, and including a distribution or payment to our shareholders upon or in connection with a reduction of capital.

 

 

(iv)

If and whenever we shall issue ordinary shares to our existing shareholders as a class by way of rights or we or any member of our Group or (at the direction or request or pursuant to arrangements with us or any member of our Group) any other company, person or entity shall issue or grant to shareholders as a class by way of rights, any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase our ordinary shares, or any Other Securities which by their terms of issue carry (directly or indirectly) rights of conversion into, or exchange or subscription for, any of our ordinary shares (or shall grant any such rights in respect of existing Other Securities so issued), in each case at a price per ordinary share which is less than 95% of the Current Market Price per ordinary share on the Effective Date, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in force immediately prior to the Effective Date by the following fraction:

 

A + B A + C

 

where:

 

A

is the number of ordinary shares in issue on the Effective Date;

 

B

is the number of ordinary shares which the aggregate consideration (if any) receivable for the ordinary shares issued by way of rights, or for the Other Securities issued by way of rights, or for the options or warrants or other rights issued by way of rights and for the total number of ordinary shares deliverable on the exercise thereof, would purchase at such Current Market Price per ordinary share on the Effective Date; and

 

C

is the number of ordinary shares to be issued or, as the case may be, the maximum number of ordinary shares which may be issued upon exercise of such options, warrants or rights calculated as at the date of issue of such options, warrants or rights or upon conversion or exchange or exercise of rights of subscription or purchase in respect thereof at the initial conversion, exchange, subscription or purchase price or rate.

 

provided that if, on the Effective Date, such number of ordinary shares is to be determined by reference to the application of a formula or other variable feature or the occurrence of any event at some subsequent time, then for the purposes of this sub-paragraph (iv), “C” shall be determined by the application of such formula or variable feature or as if the relevant event occurs or had occurred as at the Effective Date and as if such conversion, exchange, subscription, purchase or acquisition had taken place on the Effective Date.

 

Such adjustment shall become effective on the Effective Date.

 

“Effective Date” means, in respect of this sub-paragraph (iv), the first date on which the ordinary shares are traded ex-rights, ex-options or ex-warrants on the Relevant Stock Exchange.

 

For the purpose of any calculation of the consideration receivable or price pursuant to sub-paragraph (iv), the following provisions shall apply:

 

(i)

the aggregate consideration receivable or price for ordinary shares issued for cash shall be the amount of such cash;

 

(ii)

(x) the aggregate consideration receivable or price for ordinary shares to be issued or otherwise made available upon the conversion or exchange of any Other Securities shall be deemed to be the consideration or price received or receivable for any such securities and (y) the aggregate consideration receivable or price for ordinary shares to be issued or otherwise made available upon the exercise of rights of subscription attached to any Other Securities or upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights shall be deemed to be that part (which may be the whole) of the consideration or price received or receivable for such Other Securities or, as the case may be, for such options, warrants or rights which are attributed by us to such rights of subscription or, as the case may be, such options, warrants or rights or, if no part of such consideration or price is so attributed, the Fair Market Value of such rights of subscription or, as the case may be, such

 

 

options, warrants or rights as at the relevant Effective Date, plus in the case of each of (x) and (y) above, the additional minimum consideration receivable or price (if any) upon the conversion or exchange of such Other Securities, or upon the exercise of such rights of subscription attached thereto or, as the case may be, upon exercise of such options, warrants or rights and (z) the consideration receivable or price per ordinary share upon the conversion or exchange of, or upon the exercise of such rights of subscription attached to, such Other Securities or, as the case may be, upon the exercise of such options, warrants or rights shall be the aggregate consideration or price referred to in (x) or (y) above (as the case may be) divided by the number of ordinary shares to be issued upon such conversion or exchange or exercise at the initial conversion, exchange or subscription price or rate;

 

(iii)

if the consideration or price determined pursuant to (i) or (ii) above (or any component thereof) shall be expressed in a currency other than the Relevant Currency, it shall be converted into the Relevant Currency at the Prevailing Rate on the relevant Effective Date;

 

(iv)

in determining the consideration or price pursuant to the above, no deduction shall be made for any commissions or fees (howsoever described) or any expenses paid or incurred for any underwriting, placing or management of the issue of the relevant ordinary shares or Other Securities or options, warrants or rights, or otherwise in connection therewith; and

 

(v)

the consideration or price shall be determined as provided above on the basis of the consideration or price received, receivable, paid or payable, regardless of whether all or part thereof is received, receivable, paid or payable by or to us or another entity.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions:

 

(A)

where the events or circumstances giving rise to any adjustment to the Conversion Price have already resulted or will result in an adjustment to the Conversion Price or the events or circumstances giving rise to any adjustment arise by virtue of any other events or circumstances that have already given or will give rise to an adjustment to the Conversion Price or where more than one event which gives rise to an adjustment to the Conversion Price occurs within such a short period of time that, in our opinion, a modification to the adjustment provisions is required to give the intended result, such modification shall be made to the operation of the adjustment provisions as may be determined in good faith by an Independent Financial Adviser to be in its opinion appropriate to give the intended result;

 

(B)

such modification will be made as may be determined by an Independent Financial Adviser to be in its opinion appropriate (i) to ensure that an adjustment to the Conversion Price or the economic effect thereof shall not be taken into account more than once, (ii) to ensure that the economic effect of an Extraordinary Dividend is not taken into account more than once and (iii) to reflect any redenomination of our issued ordinary shares for the time being into a new currency;

 

(C)

other than provided under paragraphs (A) and (B) above, if any doubt shall arise as to whether an adjustment falls to be made to the Conversion Price or as to the appropriate adjustment to the Conversion Price, we may at our discretion appoint an Independent Financial Adviser, and following consultation between ourselves and such Independent Financial Adviser, a written opinion of such Independent Financial Adviser in respect thereof shall be conclusive and binding on us and the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, save in the case of manifest error.

 

(D)

no adjustment will be made to the Conversion Price where ordinary shares or Other Securities (including rights, warrants and options) are issued, offered, exercised, allotted, purchased, appropriated, modified or granted to, or for the benefit of, employees or former employees (including directors holding or formerly holding executive office or the personal service company of any such person) or their spouses or relatives, in each case, of us or any of our Subsidiaries or any associated company or to a trustee or trustees to be held for the benefit of any such person, in any such case pursuant to any share or option scheme;

 

(E)

on any adjustment, if the resultant Conversion Price has more decimal places than the initial Conversion Price, it shall be rounded to the same number of decimal places as the initial Conversion Price (with 0.005

 

 

being rounded down). No adjustment shall be made to the Conversion Price where such adjustment (rounded down if applicable) would be less than 1% of the Conversion Price then in effect. Any adjustment not required to be made pursuant to the above, and/or any amount by which the Conversion Price has been rounded down, shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment, and such subsequent adjustment shall be made on the basis that the adjustment not required to be made had been made at the relevant time and/or, as the case may be, that the relevant rounding down had not been made;

 

(F)

notice of any adjustments to the Conversion Price shall be given by us to holders of the Contingent Capital Notes promptly after the determination thereof in accordance with “—Notice” below; and

 

(G)

any adjustment to the Conversion Price shall be subject to such Conversion Price not being less than the U.S. dollar equivalent of the nominal amount of an ordinary share at such time (currently £1.00). We undertake that we shall not take any action, and shall procure that no action is taken, that would otherwise result in an adjustment to the Conversion Price to below such nominal value then in effect.

 

References to any issue or offer or grant to shareholders “as a class” or “by way of rights” shall be taken to be references to an issue or offer or grant to all or substantially all shareholders, as the case may be, other than shareholders, as the case may be, to whom, by reason of the laws of any territory or requirements of any recognised regulatory body or any other stock exchange or securities market in any territory or in connection with fractional entitlements, it is determined not to make such issue or offer or grant.

 

Conversion Procedures

 

The procedures following the Automatic Conversion set forth in this section are subject to change to reflect changes in clearing system practices.

 

On the Conversion Date, we shall issue and deliver the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or as otherwise provided by the Indenture and the Contingent Capital Notes) on terms permitting a Settlement Shares Offer, and, provided the Settlement Shares are so issued and delivered, no holder of Contingent Capital Notes will have any rights against us with respect to the repayment of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes or the payment of interest or any other amount on or in respect of such Contingent Capital Notes, which liabilities shall be automatically released. Accordingly, the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes shall equal zero at all times thereafter (although the Tradable Amount shall remain unchanged). Any interest in respect of an interest period ending on any Interest Payment Date falling between the Conversion Trigger Event and the Conversion Date shall be deemed to have been cancelled upon the occurrence of such Conversion Trigger Event and shall not be due and payable.

 

Provided that we issue and deliver the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes as described herein, with effect from and on the Conversion Date, holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes shall have recourse only to the Settlement Share Depository for the delivery to them of Settlement Shares, or, if they elect, ADSs or, if applicable, the Alternative Consideration. Subject to the occurrence of a Winding-up or Administration Event on or following a Conversion Trigger Event, if we fail to issue and deliver the Settlement Shares upon Automatic Conversion to the Settlement Share Depository on the Conversion Date, a holder’s or beneficial owner’s only right under the Contingent Capital Notes will be a claim for such Settlement Shares to be issued and delivered, subject to the provisions described under “—Settlement Procedures” below.

 

While any Contingent Capital Notes remain outstanding, we will at all times keep available for issue, free from pre-emptive or other preferential rights, sufficient ordinary shares to enable the Automatic Conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes to be discharged and satisfied in full. Once the Contingent Capital Notes have been converted into Settlement Shares, there will be no provision for the reconversion of such Settlement Shares into Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The Settlement Shares to be issued and delivered shall (except where we have been unable to appoint a Settlement Share Depository) initially be registered in the name of the Settlement Share Depository, which, subject to a Settlement Shares Offer, shall hold such Settlement Shares on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes. By virtue of its holding of any Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes shall be deemed to have irrevocably directed us to issue and deliver the

 

 

Settlement Shares corresponding to the conversion of its holding of Contingent Capital Notes to the Settlement Share Depository.

 

Following the issuance and delivery of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository on the Conversion Date, the Contingent Capital Notes shall remain in existence until the applicable Cancellation Date for the sole purpose of evidencing a holder’s or beneficial owner’s right to receive Settlement Shares, or, if it elects, ADSs or the Alternative Consideration, as the case may be, from the Settlement Share Depository.

 

Subject to the conditions described in this section, the Settlement Shares, or, if a holder elects, ADSs or Alternative Consideration will be delivered to holders of the Contingent Capital Notes on the Settlement Date, and the Contingent Capital Notes shall be cancelled on the Cancellation Date.

 

Agreement with Respect to Automatic Conversion

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are not convertible into Settlement Shares at the option of the holders at any time. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, by its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner shall be deemed to have (i) agreed to all the terms and conditions of the Contingent Capital Notes, including, without limitation, those related to (x) Automatic Conversion following a Conversion Trigger Event and (y) the appointment of the Settlement Share Depository, the issuance of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository (or to the relevant recipient in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes) and the potential sale of the Settlement Shares pursuant to a Settlement Shares Offer, and acknowledged that such events in (x) and (y) may occur without any further action on the part of the holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes or the Trustee, (ii) agreed that effective upon, and following, the Automatic Conversion, no amount shall be due and payable to the holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, and our liability to pay any such amounts (including the principal amount of, or any interest in respect of, the Contingent Capital Notes) shall be automatically released, and the holders and beneficial owners shall not have the right to give a direction to the Trustee with respect to the Conversion Trigger Event and any related Automatic Conversion, (iii) waived, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, any claim against the Trustee arising out of its acceptance of its trusteeship under, and the performance of its duties, powers and rights in respect of, the Indenture and in connection with the Contingent Capital Notes, including, without limitation, claims related to or arising out of or in connection with a Conversion Trigger Event and/or any Automatic Conversion and (iv) authorised, directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such Contingent Capital Notes to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the Automatic Conversion without any further action or direction on the part of such holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes or beneficial owner or the Trustee.

 

Settlement Shares Offer

 

In our sole and absolute discretion within ten (10) Business Days following the Conversion Date, we may elect that the Settlement Share Depository (or an agent on its behalf) make an offer of all or some of the Settlement Shares to all or some of our ordinary shareholders upon Automatic Conversion (the “Settlement Shares Offer”), such offer to be at a cash price per Settlement Share that will be no less than the Conversion Price (translated from U.S. dollars into pounds sterling at the then-prevailing rate as determined by us in our sole discretion) and subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments described under “—Anti-dilution Adjustment of the Conversion Price” (the “Settlement Shares Offer Price”). Such election shall be made through the delivery of a “Settlement Shares Offer Notice” to the Trustee directly and to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes in accordance with “—Notice” below. If so elected, the Settlement Shares Offer Notice shall specify (i) the period of time for which the Settlement Shares Offer shall be made (the “Settlement Shares Offer Period”), which shall end no later than forty (40) Business Days after the delivery of the Settlement Shares Offer Notice, and (ii) the date on which DTC shall suspend all clearance and settlement of transactions in the Contingent Capital Notes in accordance with its rules and procedures (the “Suspension Date”) if the Suspension Date has not previously been specified in the Conversion Trigger Notice.

 

We reserve the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to elect that the Settlement Share Depository terminate the Settlement Shares Offer at any time during the Settlement Shares Offer Period. If we make such an election, we will provide at least three (3) Business Days’ notice to the Trustee and paying agent directly and to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes via DTC. The Settlement Share Depository may then, in its sole and absolute discretion, take steps to deliver to holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes the Settlement Shares or, if the

 

 

holder elects, ADSs at a time that is earlier than the time at which they would have otherwise received the Alternative Consideration had the Settlement Shares Offer been completed.

 

Upon expiry of the Settlement Shares Offer Period, the Settlement Share Depository will provide notice to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes in accordance with “—Notice” below of the composition of the Alternative Consideration (and of the deductions to the cash component, if any, of the Alternative Consideration (as set out in the definition of Alternative Consideration)) per $1,000 Tradable Amount of the Contingent Capital Notes. The Alternative Consideration will be held by the Settlement Share Depository on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes and will be delivered to holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes pursuant to the procedures set forth under “—Settlement Procedures” below.

 

The cash component of any Alternative Consideration shall be payable by the Settlement Share Depository to the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes whether or not the Solvency Condition is satisfied.

 

Agreement with respect to any Settlement Shares Offer

 

By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes acknowledges and agrees that if we elect, in our sole and absolute discretion, that a Settlement Shares Offer be conducted by the Settlement Share Depository, such holder and beneficial owner shall be deemed to have: (i) irrevocably consented to any Settlement Shares Offer and, notwithstanding that such Settlement Shares are held by the Settlement Share Depository on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, to the Settlement Share Depository using the Settlement Shares delivered to it to settle any Settlement Shares Offer; (ii) irrevocably consented to the transfer of the beneficial interest it holds in the Settlement Shares delivered upon Automatic Conversion to the Settlement Share Depository or to one or more purchasers identified by the Settlement Share Depository in connection with the Settlement Shares Offer; (iii) irrevocably agreed that we and the Settlement Share Depository may take any and all actions necessary to conduct the Settlement Shares Offer in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes; and (iv) irrevocably agreed that none of us, the Trustee or the Settlement Share Depository shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, incur any liability to the holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes in respect of the Settlement Shares Offer (except for the obligations of the Settlement Share Depository in respect of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes’ entitlement to, and subsequent delivery of, any Alternative Consideration).

 

Settlement Procedures

 

Delivery of the Settlement Shares, or, if the holder elects, ADSs or Alternative Consideration, as applicable, to the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes will be made in accordance with the following procedures. The procedures set forth in this section are subject to change to reflect changes in clearing system practices.

 

It is expected that the Settlement Shares (or the Settlement Shares component, if any, of any Alternative Consideration) will be delivered to holders of the Contingent Capital Notes in uncertificated form through the dematerialised securities trading system operated by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, known as CREST, unless the Settlement Shares are not a participating security in CREST at the relevant time, in which case the Settlement Shares (or the Settlement Shares component, if any, of any Alternative Consideration) will be delivered either in the form of the relevant clearing system in which the Settlement Shares are a participating security or in certificated form. It is expected that where the Settlement Shares (or the Settlement Shares component, if any, of any Alternative Consideration) are to be delivered through CREST or such other clearing system in which such Settlement Shares are a participating security, they will be delivered to the account specified by the holder in the relevant Settlement Notice as described below. It is expected that where the Settlement Shares (or the Settlement Shares component, if any, of any Alternative Consideration) are to be delivered in certificated form, the name of the relevant holder (or its nominee) will be entered in our share register, and a certificate in respect thereof will be dispatched by mail free of charge to the holder or as it may direct in the relevant Settlement Notice as described below. It is expected that the cash component, if any, of any Alternative Consideration will be delivered through DTC (or, if the Contingent Capital Notes are held in definitive form, to the holders directly at their address shown on the register for the Contingent Capital Notes) on or around the date on which the Settlement Shares Offer Period ends, subject to DTC’s procedures in effect at such time.

 

 

The Conversion Trigger Notice shall specify the Suspension Date. On the Suspension Date, DTC shall suspend all clearance and settlement of transactions in the Contingent Capital Notes. As a result, holders of the Contingent Capital Notes will not be able to settle the transfer of any Contingent Capital Notes following the Suspension Date, and any sale or other transfer of the Contingent Capital Notes that a holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes may have initiated prior to the Suspension Date that is scheduled to settle after the Suspension Date will be rejected by DTC and will not be settled through DTC. The Contingent Capital Notes may cease to be admitted to trading on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on which the Contingent Capital Notes are then listed or admitted to trading after the Suspension Date.

 

On the Suspension Date, we shall deliver a notice in accordance with “—Notice” below to the Trustee and to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes (a “Settlement Request Notice”) requesting that holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes complete a notice to be delivered to the Settlement Share Depository, with a copy to the Trustee (a “Settlement Notice”). The Settlement Request Notice shall specify (i) the date by which the Settlement Notice must be received by the Settlement Share Depository (the “Notice Cut-off Date”) and (ii) the date on which the Contingent Capital Notes in relation to which no Settlement Notice has been received by the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date shall be cancelled, which date may be up to twelve (12) Business Days following the Notice Cut-off Date (the “Final Cancellation Date”).

 

In order to obtain delivery of the relevant Settlement Shares, or, if the holder elects, ADSs or Alternative Consideration, a holder or beneficial owner must deliver its Settlement Notice to the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date. If such delivery is made after the end of normal business hours at the specified office of the Settlement Share Depository, such delivery shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made or given on the following Business Day. The Settlement Notice shall contain: (i) the name of the holder or beneficial owner; (ii) the Tradable Amount of the book-entry interests in the Contingent Capital Notes held by such holder or beneficial owner on the date of such notice; (iii) the name to be entered in our share register; (iv) whether Settlement Shares are to be delivered to the holder or beneficial owner or ADSs are to be issued on behalf of the holder or beneficial owner through our ADS facility; (v) the details of the CREST or other clearing system account (subject to the limitations set out below), details of the registered account in our ADS facility, or, if the Settlement Shares are not a participating security in CREST or another clearing system, the address to which the Settlement Shares (or the Settlement Shares component, if any, of any Alternative Consideration) and/or cash (if not expected to be delivered through DTC) should be delivered; and (vi) such other details as may be required by the Settlement Share Depository.

 

If the Contingent Capital Notes are held through DTC, the Settlement Notice must be given in accordance with the standard procedures of DTC (which may include the notice being given to the Settlement Share Depository by electronic means) and in a form acceptable to DTC and the Settlement Share Depository. If the Contingent Capital Notes are in definitive form, the Settlement Notice must be delivered to the specified office of the Settlement Share Depository together with the relevant Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Subject as provided herein and provided the Settlement Notice and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if applicable when held in definitive form, are delivered on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, the Settlement Share Depository shall deliver the relevant Alternative Consideration or Settlement Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number of Settlement Shares) to, or shall deposit such relevant Settlement Shares with the ADS Depositary on behalf of, the holder or beneficial owner of the relevant Contingent Capital Notes completing the relevant Settlement Notice or its nominee in accordance with the instructions given in such Settlement Notice on the applicable Settlement Date.

 

Each Settlement Notice shall be irrevocable. Failure to properly complete and deliver a Settlement Notice and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if applicable, may result in such Settlement Notice being treated by the Settlement Share Depository as null and void. Any determination as to whether any Settlement Notice has been properly completed and delivered shall be made by the Settlement Share Depository in its sole and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on the relevant holder or beneficial owner.

 

Neither we nor any member of our Group will pay any taxes or duties (including without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) arising upon Automatic Conversion or that may arise or be paid as a consequence of the issue and delivery of Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository or in connection with the issue of ADSs. Holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes must pay any taxes or duties (including without limitation,

 

 

any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) arising upon Automatic Conversion in connection with the issue and delivery of the Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository and/or the issue of ADSs, and such holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes must pay all, if any, such taxes or duties (including without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) arising by reference to any disposal or deemed disposal of such holders’ or beneficial owners’ Contingent Capital Notes or interest therein. Any taxes and duties (including without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) arising on delivery or transfer of Settlement Shares to a purchaser in any Settlement Shares Offer shall be payable by the relevant purchaser of those Settlement Shares.

 

Except to the extent that a holder or beneficial owner has elected to receive ADSs, the Settlement Shares (and the Settlement Shares component, if any, of any Alternative Consideration) will not be available for delivery (i) to, or to a nominee for, any person providing a clearance service within the meaning of Section 96 of the Finance Act 1986 of the United Kingdom (which would include delivery into Euorclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, but not, subject to (iii) below, delivery into CREST) or (ii) to a person, or nominee or agent for a person, whose business is or includes issuing depository receipts within the meaning of Section 93 of the Finance Act 1986 of the United Kingdom, in each case at any time prior to the “abolition day” as defined in Section 111(1) of the Finance Act 1990 of the United Kingdom or (iii) to the CREST account of such a person described in (i) or (ii).

 

Failure to Deliver a Settlement Notice

 

If a Settlement Notice and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if applicable, are not delivered to the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, the Settlement Share Depository shall continue to hold the relevant Settlement Shares or Alternative Consideration until a Settlement Notice (and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if applicable when held in definitive form) are so delivered. However, the relevant Contingent Capital Notes shall be cancelled on the Final Cancellation Date and any holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes delivering a Settlement Notice after the Notice Cut-off Date will have to provide evidence of its entitlement to the relevant Settlement Shares or, if the holder elects, ADSs or the Alternative Consideration, as applicable, satisfactory to the Settlement Share Depository in its sole and absolute discretion in order to receive delivery of such Settlement Shares or ADSs (if so elected to be deposited with the ADS Depositary on its behalf) or Alternative Consideration. We shall have no liability to any holder or beneficial owner of Contingent Capital Notes for any loss resulting from such holder or beneficial owner not receiving any Settlement Shares, ADSs or Alternative Consideration or from any delay in the receipt thereof, in each case as a result of such holder’s or beneficial owner’s failing to duly submit a Settlement Notice and the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, if applicable, on a timely basis or at all.

 

Delivery of ADSs

 

In respect of any Settlement Shares which holders or beneficial owners elect to be converted into ADSs as specified in the Settlement Notice, the Settlement Share Depository shall deposit with the ADS Depository the number of Settlement Shares to be issued upon Automatic Conversion of the relevant Contingent Capital Notes, and the ADS Depository shall issue the corresponding number of ADSs to such holders or beneficial owners (per the ADS-to-ordinary share ratio in effect on the Conversion Date). Once deposited, the ADS Depository shall be entitled to the economic rights of a holder or beneficial owner of the Settlement Shares for the purposes of any dividend entitlement and otherwise on behalf of the ADS holders, and the holder or beneficial owner will become the record holder of the related ADSs for all purposes under the ADS deposit agreement. However, the issuance of the ADSs by the ADS Depository may be delayed until the depositary bank or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the Settlement Shares have been duly transferred to the custodian and that all applicable depositary fees and payments have been paid to the ADS Depository. For further information on the ADSs or the ADS deposit agreement, see “Description of Ordinary Share American Depositary Shares” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

For the purposes of these provisions:

 

“ADS Depository” means The Bank of New York Mellon, as the depositary under our ordinary share American Depository Facility.

 

 

“Alternative Consideration” means, in respect of each Contingent Capital Note and as determined by us (i) if all of the Settlement Shares to be issued and delivered following Automatic Conversion are sold in the Settlement Shares Offer, the pro rata share of the cash proceeds from the sale of such Settlement Shares attributable to such Contingent Capital Notes translated from sterling into U.S. dollars at a then-prevailing exchange rate as determined by the Settlement Share Depository (less the pro rata share of any foreign exchange transaction costs and an amount equal to the pro rata share of any taxes and duties (including, without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital, issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) that may arise or be paid in connection with the issue and delivery of Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository pursuant to the Settlement Shares Offer); (ii) if some but not all of such Settlement Shares to be issued and delivered upon Automatic Conversion are sold in the Settlement Shares Offer, (x) the pro rata share of the cash proceeds from the sale of such Settlement Shares attributable to such Contingent Capital Notes translated from sterling into U.S. dollars at a then-prevailing exchange rate as determined by the Settlement Share Depository (less the pro rata share of any foreign exchange transaction costs and an amount equal to the pro rata share of any taxes and duties (including, without limitation, any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any other capital, issue, transfer, registration, financial transaction or documentary tax or duty) that may arise or be paid in connection with the delivery of Settlement Shares to the Settlement Share Depository pursuant to the Settlement Shares Offer) and (y) the pro rata share of such Settlement Shares not sold pursuant to the Settlement Shares Offer attributable to such Contingent Capital Notes rounded down to the nearest whole number of Settlement Shares; and (iii) if no Settlement Shares are sold in the Settlement Shares Offer, the relevant number of Settlement Shares that would have been received had we not elected that the Settlement Share Depository should carry out a Settlement Shares Offer.

 

“Cancellation Date” means (i) with respect to any Contingent Capital Notes for which a Settlement Notice is received by the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, the applicable Settlement Date and (ii) with respect to any Contingent Capital Notes for which a Settlement Notice is not received by the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, the Final Cancellation Date.

 

“Settlement Date” means:

 

(i) with respect to any Contingent Capital Note in relation to which a Settlement Notice is received by the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date where we have not elected that the Settlement Share Depository will carry out a Settlement Shares Offer, the date that is two (2) Business Days after the latest of (x) the Conversion Date, (y) the date on which we announce that we will not elect for the Settlement Share Depository to carry out a Settlement Shares Offer (or, if no such announcement is made, the last date on which we are entitled to give a Settlement Shares Offer Notice) and (z) the date on which the relevant Settlement Notice has been received by the Settlement Share Depository;

 

(ii) with respect to any Contingent Capital Notes in relation to which a Settlement Notice is received by the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date where we have elected that the Settlement Share Depository will carry out a Settlement Shares Offer, the date that is the later of (x) two (2) Business Days after the day on which the Settlement Shares Offer Period expires or is terminated and (y) two (2) Business Days after the date on which such Settlement Notice has been so received by the Settlement Share Depository; and

 

(iii) with respect to any Contingent Capital Notes in relation to which a Settlement Notice is not so received by the Settlement Share Depository on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, the date on which the Settlement Share Depository delivers the relevant Settlement Shares, ADSs or Alternative Consideration, as applicable, to the relevant holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

“Suspension Date” has the meaning given to that term under “Agreement with Respect to Automatic Conversion —Settlement Shares Offer” above.

 

Conversion following the Occurrence of a Qualifying Takeover Event and write-down following the Occurrence of Non-Qualifying Takeover Event

 

If a Qualifying Takeover Event occurs, the Contingent Capital Notes shall, where the Conversion Date (if any) falls on or after the New Conversion Condition Effective Date, be converted on such Conversion Date into Relevant Shares of the Approved Entity, mutatis mutandis as provided under “—Automatic Conversion” above at a Conversion Price that shall be the New Conversion Price. Such conversion shall be effected by the delivery by us of such number of Settlement Shares as set forth under “—Automatic Conversion” above to, or to the order of, the

 

 

Approved Entity. Such delivery shall irrevocably discharge and satisfy all of our obligations under the Contingent Capital Notes (but shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Trustee and the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes against the Approved Entity in connection with its undertaking to deliver Relevant Shares as provided in the definition of “New Conversion Condition” below). Such delivery shall be in consideration of the Approved Entity irrevocably undertaking, for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, to deliver the Relevant Shares to the Settlement Share Depository as aforesaid. For the avoidance of doubt, we may elect that a Settlement Shares Offer be made by the Settlement Share Depository in respect of the Relevant Shares.

 

The New Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustments as described under “—Anti-dilution Adjustment of the Conversion Price” above and in accordance with the Indenture, with such modifications as an Independent Financial Adviser acting in good faith shall determine to be appropriate, and we shall give notice to holders of Contingent Capital Notes of the New Conversion Price and of any such modifications in accordance with “—Notice” below.

 

In the case of a Qualifying Takeover Event:

 

(1)

we shall, on or prior to the New Conversion Condition Effective Date, enter into such agreements and arrangements (which may include supplemental indentures to the Indenture and amendments and modifications to the terms and conditions of the Contingent Capital Notes and the Indenture) as may be required to ensure that, with effect from the New Conversion Condition Effective Date, the Contingent Capital Notes shall (following the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event) be convertible into, or exchangeable for, Relevant Shares of the Approved Entity mutatis mutandis in accordance with, and subject to, the provisions under “—Automatic Conversion” above and in accordance with the Indenture (as each may be so supplemented or amended) at the New Conversion Price;

 

(2)

subject as set out above, we shall, where the Conversion Date falls on or after the New Conversion Condition Effective Date, procure the issue and/or delivery of the relevant number of Relevant Shares mutatis mutandis in the manner provided under “—Automatic Conversion” above and in accordance with the Indenture (as each may be so supplemented or amended).

 

Within 10 days following the occurrence of a Takeover Event, we shall give notice thereof to the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes (a “Takeover Event Notice”), with a copy to the Trustee, in accordance with “—Notice” below.

 

The Takeover Event Notice shall specify:

 

(1)

the identity of the Acquirer;

 

(2)

whether the Takeover Event is a Qualifying Takeover Event or a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event;

 

(3)

in the case of a Qualifying Takeover Event, the New Conversion Price; and

 

(4)

in the case of a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, unless the Conversion Date shall have occurred prior to the date of the Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, that, following such Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, outstanding Contingent Capital Notes shall not be subject to Automatic Conversion at any time notwithstanding that a Conversion Trigger Event may have occurred or may occur subsequently but that, instead, upon any subsequent Conversion Trigger Event (or where the Conversion Date occurs on or after the date of a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event), the outstanding principal amount of each Contingent Capital Note will be automatically written down to zero, the Contingent Capital Notes will be cancelled, the holders and beneficial owners will be automatically deemed to have irrevocably waived their right to receive, and no longer have any rights against us with respect to repayment of the aggregate principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes so written down and all Accrued Interest and any other amounts payable on the Contingent Capital Notes shall be automatically cancelled, irrespective of whether such amounts have become due and payable prior to the occurrence of the Conversion Trigger Event.

 

 

Upon a Conversion Trigger Event occurring subsequently to a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, we shall provide a written notice to DTC as soon as practicable regarding the automatic write down to zero of the Contingent Capital Notes for purposes of notifying holders of such occurrence. We shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Trustee for information purposes.

 

“Acquirer” means the person which, following a Takeover Event, controls us.

 

“Approved Entity” means a body corporate that is incorporated or established under the laws of an OECD member state and which, on the occurrence of the Takeover Event, has in issue Relevant Shares.

 

“EEA Regulated Market” means a market as defined by Article 4.1(14) of Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on markets in financial instruments.

 

“Governmental Entity” means (i) the United Kingdom Government, (ii) an agency of the United Kingdom Government or (iii) a Person or entity (other than a body corporate) controlled by the United Kingdom Government or any such agency referred to in clause (ii) of this definition. If we are then organised in another jurisdiction, the references to “United Kingdom Government” shall be read as references to the government of such other jurisdiction.

 

The “New Conversion Condition” shall be satisfied if by not later than seven calendar days following the occurrence of a Takeover Event where the Acquirer is an Approved Entity, we shall have entered into arrangements to our satisfaction with the Approved Entity pursuant to which the Approved Entity irrevocably undertakes to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, to deliver the Relevant Shares to the Settlement Share Depository upon Automatic Conversion.

 

“New Conversion Condition Effective Date” means the date with effect from which the New Conversion Condition shall have been satisfied.

 

“New Conversion Price” means the amount determined by us in accordance with the following formula:

 

NCP = ECP ×

VWAPRS VWAPOS

 

where:

 

NCP

is the New Conversion Price.

 

ECP

is the Conversion Price in effect on the dealing day immediately prior to the New Conversion Condition Effective Date.

 

VWAPRS

means the average of the Volume Weighted Average Price of the Relevant Shares (translated, if necessary, into US dollars at the Prevailing Rate on the relevant dealing day) on each of the 10 dealing days ending on the dealing day prior to the date the Takeover Event shall have occurred (and where references in the definition of “Volume Weighted Average Price” to “ordinary shares” shall be construed as references to the Relevant Shares, and in the definition of “dealing day”, references to the “Relevant Stock Exchange” shall be to the primary Regulated Market on which the Relevant Shares are then listed, admitted to trading or accepted for dealing).

 

VWAPOS

is the average of the Volume Weighted Average Price of our ordinary shares (translated, if necessary, into U.S. dollars at the Prevailing Rate on the relevant dealing day) on each of the 10 dealing days ending on the dealing day prior to the date the Takeover Event shall have occurred.

 

“Non-Qualifying Takeover Event” means a Takeover Event that is not a Qualifying Takeover Event.

 

“ordinary share capital” has the meaning provided in Section 119 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 2010 and “equity share capital” has the meaning provided in Section 548 of the Companies Act.

 

 

“Prevailing Rate” means, in respect of any currencies on any day, the spot rate of exchange between the relevant currencies prevailing as at or about 12 noon (London time) on that date as appearing on or derived from the Relevant Page or, if such a rate cannot be determined at such time, the rate prevailing as at or about 12 noon (London time) on the immediately preceding day on which such rate can be so determined or, if such rate cannot be so determined by reference to the Relevant Page, the rate determined in such other manner as an Independent Financial Adviser shall in good faith prescribe.

 

“Qualifying Takeover Event” means a Takeover Event where:

 

(i)

the Acquirer is an Approved Entity; and

 

(ii)

the New Conversion Condition is satisfied.

 

“Regulated Market” means an EEA Regulated Market or another regulated, regularly operating, recognised stock exchange or securities market in an OECD member state.

 

“Relevant Page” means the relevant page on Bloomberg or such other information service provider that displays the relevant information.

 

“Relevant Shares” means ordinary share capital of the Approved Entity that constitutes equity share capital or the equivalent (or depositary or other receipts representing the same) which is listed and admitted to trading on a Regulated Market.

 

A “Takeover Event” shall occur if, at any time after the Issue Date, any person or persons acting in concert (as defined in the Takeover Code of the United Kingdom Panel on Takeovers and Mergers) acquires control of us.

 

For the purposes of the definition of “Takeover Event”, “control” means:

 

(a)

the acquisition or holding of legal or beneficial ownership of more than 50% of our issued ordinary shares; or

 

(b)

the right to appoint and/or remove all or the majority of our members of the Board of Directors, whether obtained directly or indirectly and whether obtained by ownership of share capital, contract or otherwise,

 

and “controlled” shall be construed accordingly.

 

Agreement to Write-down in connection with a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event

 

By acquiring the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner acknowledges and agrees that (i) unless the Conversion Date shall have occurred prior to the date of any Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, following such Non-Qualifying Takeover Event, the outstanding Contingent Capital Notes shall not be subject to Automatic Conversion notwithstanding that a Conversion Trigger Event may have occurred or may occur subsequently but instead, upon the occurrence of any subsequent Conversion Trigger Event (or where the Conversion Date occurs on or after the date of a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event), the outstanding principal amount of each Contingent Capital Note shall be automatically written down to zero, the Contingent Capital Notes shall be cancelled, the holders and beneficial owners shall be automatically deemed to have irrevocably waived their right to receive, and no longer have any rights against us with respect to repayment of the aggregate principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes so written down and all Accrued Interest and any other amounts payable on the Contingent Capital Notes shall be automatically cancelled, irrespective of whether such amounts have become due and payable prior to the occurrence of the Conversion Trigger Event, and (ii) in connection with the write-down to zero of the Contingent Capital Notes following the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event subsequently to any Non-Qualifying Takeover Event (a) the Trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes under Section 5.12 (Control by Holders) of the Original Indenture, which section authorises holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes to direct certain actions relating to the Contingent Capital Notes; (b) it shall be deemed to have authorised, directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such Contingent Capital Notes to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the write-down to zero of the

 

 

Contingent Capital Notes, without any further action or direction on the part of such holders and such beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes or the Trustee; (c) the Indenture shall impose no additional duties on the Trustee whatsoever in connection with the write-down to zero of the Contingent Capital Notes; and (d) to the extent permitted by the TIA, each holder and beneficial owner waives any and all claims against the Trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee shall not be liable for, any action taken by the Trustee or which the Trustee abstains from taking.

 

Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of the UK bail-in power

 

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between us and any holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital notes, by its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by and consents to the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority that may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Contingent Capital Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of the Issuer or another person; and/or (iii) the amendment of the amount of interest due on the Contingent Capital Notes, or the dates on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which UK bail-in power may be exercised by means of variation of the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of such UK bail-in power. With respect to (i), (ii) and (iii) above, references to principal and interest shall include payments of principal and interest that have become due and payable but which have not been paid, prior to the exercise of any UK bail-in power. Each holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders and/or beneficial owners under the Contingent Capital Notes are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

“relevant UK resolution authority” means any authority with the ability to exercise a UK bail-in power.

 

“UK bail-in power” is any write-down and/or conversion power existing from time to time under any laws, regulations, rules or requirements relating to the resolution of banks, banking group companies, credit institutions and/or investment firms incorporated in the UK in effect and applicable in the UK to us or other members of our Group, including but not limited to any such laws, regulations, rules or requirements which are implemented, adopted or enacted within the context of a European Union directive or regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms and/or within the context of a UK resolution regime under the Banking Act, pursuant to which obligations of a bank, banking group company, credit institution or investment firm or any of its affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, amended, transferred and/or converted into shares or other securities or other obligations of the obligor or any other person.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the potential Automatic Conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes into ordinary shares, other securities or other obligations in connection with the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority is separate and distinct from the Automatic Conversion pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Contingent Capital Notes following a Conversion Trigger Event.

 

No payment of principal following any proposed redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes or payment of interest on the Contingent Capital Notes shall become due and payable after the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority unless, at the time that such repayment or payment, respectively, is scheduled to become due, such repayment or payment would be permitted to be made by us under the laws and regulations of the United Kingdom and the EU applicable to us and the Group.

 

See also “Risk Factors—Risks relating to the Contingent Capital Notes—Under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes, you have agreed to be bound by the exercise of any UK bail-in power imposed by the relevant UK resolution authority”.

 

Our obligations to indemnify the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.07 of the Original Indenture shall survive the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

 

By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of Contingent Capital Notes, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims against the Trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee shall not be liable for, any action that the Trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder of the Contingent Capital Notes acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i) the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes shall not give rise to a default for purposes of Section 315(b) (Notice of Default) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(ii) upon the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority, the Trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes under Section 5.12 (Control by Holders) of the Original Indenture, which section authorises holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes to direct certain actions relating to the Contingent Capital Notes. The Indenture shall impose no duties upon the Trustee whatsoever with respect to the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, following the completion of the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority, the Contingent Capital Notes remain outstanding (for example, if the exercise of the UK bail-in power results in only a partial write-down of the principal of the Contingent Capital Notes), then the Trustee’s duties under the Indenture shall remain applicable with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes following such completion to the extent that we and the Trustee agree pursuant to a supplemental indenture, unless we and the Trustee agree that a supplemental indenture is not necessary; and

 

(iii) it shall be deemed to have (y) consented to the exercise of any UK bail-in power as it may be imposed without any prior notice by the relevant UK resolution authority of its decision to exercise such power with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes and (z) authorised, directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds such Contingent Capital Notes to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of any UK bail-in power with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such holders and such beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes or the Trustee.

 

Upon the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes, we shall provide a written notice to DTC as soon as practicable regarding such exercise of the UK bail-in power for purposes of notifying holders of such occurrence. We shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Trustee for information purposes.

 

Enforcement Events and Remedies

 

There are no events of default under the Contingent Capital Notes. In addition, under the terms of the Indenture neither the Automatic Conversion, the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority, nor a write-down of the Contingent Capital Notes upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event following a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes will be an Enforcement Event.

 

Enforcement Events

 

Each of the following events described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) is an “Enforcement Event”:

 

(i) the occurrence of a Winding-up or Administration Event prior to the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event;

 

(ii) non-payment of principal when due as further described in clause (ii) of “—Remedies” below; or

 

(iii) breach of a Performance Obligation.

 

 

Remedies

 

(i) The occurrence of a Winding-up or Administration Event prior to the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event. If a Winding-up or Administration Event occurs prior to the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event, subject to the subordination provisions described under “—Ranking and Liquidation Distribution” above, the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes will become immediately due and payable. For the avoidance of doubt, as the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes will become immediately due and payable upon such a Winding-up or Administration Event, neither the Trustee nor the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes are required to declare such principal amount to be due and payable.

 

(ii) Non-payment of principal when due. Subject to the satisfaction of any redemption conditions described under “—Redemption and Repurchases—Pre-conditions to Redemptions and Repurchases” above, if we do not make payment of principal in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes for a period of fourteen (14) calendar days or more after the date on which such payment is due, then the Trustee, on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, may, at its discretion, or shall at the direction of holders of 25% of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Contingent Capital Notes, subject to any applicable laws, institute proceedings for our winding-up. In the event of our winding-up or liquidation, whether or not instituted by the Trustee, the Trustee may prove the claims of the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes and the Trustee in our winding-up proceeding and/or claim in our liquidation, such claims as set out under “—Ranking and Liquidation Distribution”. For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee may not declare the principal amount of any outstanding Contingent Capital Notes to be due and payable and may not pursue any other legal remedy, including a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums due and unpaid on the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

(iii) Breach of a Performance Obligation. In the event of a breach of any term, obligation or condition binding on us under the Contingent Capital Notes or the Indenture (other than any of our payment obligations under or arising from the Contingent Capital Notes or the Indenture, including payment of any principal or interest, including any damages awarded for breach of any obligations) (a “Performance Obligation”), the Trustee may without further notice institute such proceedings against us as it may think fit to enforce the Performance Obligation, provided that we shall not by virtue of the institution of any such proceedings be obliged to pay any sum or sums, in cash or otherwise (including any damages) earlier than the same would otherwise have been payable under the Contingent Capital Notes or the Indenture.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the breach by us of any Performance Obligation shall not give the Trustee and/or the holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes a claim for damages, and, in such circumstances, the sole and exclusive remedy that the Trustee and/or the holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes may seek under the Contingent Capital Notes and the Indenture is specific performance under New York law. By its acquisition of the Contingent Capital Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of Contingent Capital Notes acknowledges and agrees that such holder and beneficial owner will not seek, and will not direct the Trustee to seek, a claim for damages against us in respect of a breach by us of a Performance Obligation and that the sole and exclusive remedy that such holder and the Trustee may seek under the Contingent Capital Notes and the Indenture for a breach by us of a Performance Obligation is specific performance under New York law. See “Risk Factors—Risks relating to the Contingent Capital Notes—The Contingent Capital Notes do not contain events of default and the remedies available to holders of the Contingent Capital Notes are limited”.

 

No Other Remedies

 

Other than the limited remedies specified above, no remedy against us shall be available to the Trustee (acting on behalf of the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes) or to the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, provided that (1) the Trustee shall have such powers as are required to be authorised to it under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the rights of the holders and beneficial owners under the provisions of the Indenture and (2) nothing shall impair the rights of a holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes under the Trust Indenture Act, absent such holder’s or beneficial owner’s consent, to sue for any payment due but unpaid in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes, provided that, in the case of (1) and (2), any payments in respect of, or arising from, the Contingent Capital Notes including any payments or amounts resulting or arising from the enforcement of any rights under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes shall be subject to the provisions of the Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, such limitations shall not apply to our obligations to pay the fees and expenses of, and to indemnify, the Trustee, and the Trustee’s rights to apply money collected to

 

 

first pay its fees and expenses shall not be subject to the subordination provisions set forth in this prospectus supplement.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes are perpetual securities in respect of which there is no fixed redemption date or maturity date. Holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes may not require any redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes at any time.

 

Trustee’s Duties

 

If an Enforcement Event has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Contingent Capital Notes may on behalf of all holders of the Contingent Capital Notes waive any past Enforcement Event that results from a breach by us of a Performance Obligation. Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Contingent Capital Notes may not waive any past Enforcement Events that results from a Winding-up or Administration Event or non-payment of principal when due.

 

If an Enforcement Event has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will have no obligation to take any action at the direction of any holders of the Contingent Capital Notes, unless they have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Contingent Capital Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding in the name of and on the behalf of the Trustee for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes. However, this direction (a) must not be in conflict with any rule of law or the Indenture and (b) must not be unjustly prejudicial to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes not taking part in the direction, in the case of either (a) or (b) as determined by the Trustee in its sole discretion. The Trustee may also take any other action, consistent with the direction, that it deems proper.

 

By acquiring the Contingent Capital Notes, the holders and beneficial owners acknowledge and agree that neither an Automatic Conversion, a cancellation or deemed cancellation of interest, (in each case, in whole or in part) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Contingent Capital Notes, the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority nor a write-down of the Contingent Capital Notes upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event following a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes will give rise to a default of the purposes of Section 315(b) (Notice of Default) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Notice

 

All notices regarding the Contingent Capital Notes will be deemed to be validly given if sent by first-class mail to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes at their addresses recorded in the register.

 

Until such time as any definitive securities are issued, there may, so long as any Global Notes representing the Contingent Capital Notes are held in their entirety on behalf of DTC, be substituted for such notice by first-class mail the delivery of the relevant notice to DTC for communication by them to the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes, in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures. Neither the failure to give any notice to a particular holder, nor any defect in a notice given to a particular holder, will affect the sufficiency of any notice given to another holder.

 

Notices to be given by any holders of the Contingent Capital Notes to the Trustee shall be in writing to the Trustee at its corporate trust office. While any of the Contingent Capital Notes are represented by a Global Note, such notice may be given by any holder to the Trustee through DTC in such manner as DTC may approve for this purpose.

 

If and for so long as the Contingent Capital Notes are admitted to trading on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange, notices will also be given in accordance with any applicable requirements of such stock exchange. Any such notices delivered to the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange will also be published on the Daily Official List of the Irish Stock Exchange for so long as its rules so require.

 

 

Modification and Amendments

 

We and the Trustee may make certain modifications and amendments to the Indenture with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes without the consent of the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes, including, but not limited to, reflect changes to procedures relating to Automatic Conversion, delivery of the Settlement Shares, ADSs or Alternative Consideration, as applicable, and to give effect to any variation to the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes as a result of any exercise of any UK bail-in power. Other modifications and amendments may be made to the Indenture with the consent of holders of the Contingent Capital Notes of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes that are affected by the modification or amendment, voting as one class. However, no modifications or amendments may be made without the consent of the holder of each Contingent Capital Note affected as set forth under “Description of Contingent Convertible Securities — Modification and Waiver” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

With respect to Contingent Capital Notes issued pursuant to the Indenture, any agreements, arrangements or understandings between us and any holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Capital Notes with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes must be entered into in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

In addition, no supplemental indenture may, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Contingent Capital Note affected by such supplemental indenture, make any change that adversely affects the Automatic Conversion of any of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

In addition to the permitted amendments described in the preceding paragraph, we and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Contingent Capital Notes without the consent of any holders of the Contingent Capital Notes to conform the provisions of the Indenture to this “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes” section in this prospectus.

 

Notwithstanding the above, no modifications and amendments to the Indenture or in relation to the Contingent Capital Notes shall become effective unless we shall have given such notice as is required by, and received such permission from, the PRA as is required by the PRA under the Capital Regulations. The Trustee is entitled to request and rely on an officer’s certificate from us as to the satisfaction of this condition precedent to any modification without further enquiry.

 

Governing Law

 

The Contingent Capital Notes and the Indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the Trust Indenture Act, except that, as the Indenture specifies, the subordination provisions and the waiver of the right to set-off by the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes and by the Trustee acting on behalf of the holders of the Contingent Capital Notes with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Scotland.

 

Trustee and Agents

 

The Trustee for the Contingent Capital Notes will be The Bank of New York Mellon, acting through its London Branch. The Trustee makes no representations, and shall not be liable with respect to, the information set forth in this prospectus supplement.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon acting through its London Branch will initially act as Paying Agent for the Contingent Capital Notes. RBS plc will initially act as Calculation Agent for the Contingent Capital Notes. We may appoint additional or successor agents (together, the “Agents”).

 

We will procure that there will at all times be a Paying Agent and a Calculation Agent. We may change the Paying Agent without prior notice to the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes, and in such an event we may act as Paying Agent. We are entitled to appoint other banks of international standing as Agents, or, in the case of the Calculation Agent only, we may appoint a financial adviser with appropriate expertise. Furthermore, we are entitled to terminate the appointment of any Agent. In the event of such termination or such Agent being unable or unwilling to continue to act as Agent in the relevant capacity, we will appoint another bank of international standing, or, in the case of the Calculation Agent only, another financial adviser with appropriate expertise as Agent in the relevant capacity. Such appointment or termination will be published without undue delay in accordance with the Indenture or, should this not be possible, be published in another appropriate manner.

 

 

Subsequent Holders’ Agreement

 

Holders of the Contingent Capital Notes that acquire the Contingent Capital Notes in the secondary market shall be deemed to acknowledge, agree to be bound by and consent to the same provisions specified herein to the same extent as the holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes that acquire the Contingent Capital Notes upon their initial issuance, including, without limitation, with respect to the acknowledgment and agreement to be bound by and consent to the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes, including in relation to interest cancellation, the Automatic Conversion, the UK bail-in power, the Settlement Shares Offer, the write-down of the Contingent Capital Notes upon the occurrence of a Conversion Trigger Event following a Non-Qualifying Takeover Event and the limitations on remedies specified in “—Enforcement Events and Remedies” above.

 

Certain Defined Terms

 

In this “Description of the Contingent Capital Notes” the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Banking Act” means the UK Banking Act of 2009, as the same has been or may be amended from time to time, whether pursuant to the UK Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (the “Banking Reform Act 2013”), secondary legislation or otherwise.

 

“Current Market Price” means, in respect of an ordinary share at a particular date, the average of the daily Volume Weighted Average Price of an ordinary share on each of the five (5) consecutive dealing days ending on the dealing day immediately preceding such date; provided that, if at any time during the said five (5) dealing-day period the Volume Weighted Average Price shall have been based on a price ex-dividend (or ex-any other entitlement) and during some other part of that period the Volume Weighted Average Price shall have been based on a price cum-dividend (or cum-any other entitlement), then:

 

(i)

if the ordinary shares to be created, issued, transferred or delivered do not rank for the dividend (or entitlement) in question, the Volume Weighted Average Price on the dates on which the ordinary shares shall have been based on a price cum-dividend (or cum- any other entitlement) shall, for the purposes of this definition, be deemed to be the amount thereof reduced by an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of any such dividend or entitlement per ordinary share as at the date of first public announcement relating to such dividend or entitlement, in any such case, determined on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made on account of tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit; or

 

(ii)

if the ordinary shares to be created, issued, transferred or delivered do rank for the dividend (or entitlement) in question, the Volume Weighted Average Price on the dates on which the ordinary shares shall have been based on a price ex-dividend (or ex- any other entitlement) shall, for the purposes of this definition, be deemed to be the amount thereof increased by an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of any such dividend or entitlement per ordinary share as at the date of first public announcement relating to such dividend or entitlement, in any such case, determined on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made on account of tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit;

 

and provided further that, if on each of the said five (5) dealing days the Volume Weighted Average Price shall have been based on a price cum-dividend (or cum-any other entitlement) in respect of a dividend (or other entitlement) which has been declared or announced but the ordinary shares to be issued and delivered do not rank for that dividend (or other entitlement), the Volume Weighted Average Price on each of such dates shall, for the purposes of this definition, be deemed to be the amount thereof reduced by an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of any such dividend or entitlement per ordinary share as at the date of first public announcement relating to such dividend or entitlement, in any such case, determined on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made on account of tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit;

 

and provided further that, if the Volume Weighted Average Price of an ordinary share is not available on one or more of the said five (5) dealing days (disregarding for this purpose the

 

 

proviso to the definition of Volume Weighted Average Price), then the average of such Volume Weighted Average Prices which are available in that five (5) dealing-day period shall be used (subject to a minimum of two such prices), and if only one, or no, such Volume Weighted Average Price is available in the relevant period, the Current Market Price shall be determined in good faith by an Independent Financial Adviser.

 

“dealing day” means a day on which the Relevant Stock Exchange or relevant stock exchange or securities market is open for business and on which ordinary shares, Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights (as the case may be) may be dealt in (other than a day on which the Relevant Stock Exchange or relevant stock exchange or securities market is scheduled to or does close prior to its regular weekday closing time).

 

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any property on any date, the fair market value of that property as determined by an Independent Financial Adviser in good faith, provided that (i) the Fair Market Value of a Cash Dividend shall be the amount of such Cash Dividend; (ii) the Fair Market Value of any other cash amount shall be the amount of such cash; (iii) where Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights are publicly traded on a stock exchange or securities market of adequate liquidity (as determined in good faith by an Independent Financial Adviser), the Fair Market Value (a) of such Other Securities shall equal the arithmetic mean of the daily Volume Weighted Average Prices of such Other Securities and (b) of such options, warrants or other rights shall equal the arithmetic mean of the daily closing prices of such options, warrants or other rights, in the case of (a) and (b), during the period of five (5) dealing days on the relevant stock exchange or securities market commencing on such date (or, if later, the first such dealing day such Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights are publicly traded) or such shorter period as such Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights are publicly traded; and (iv) where Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights are not publicly traded on a stock exchange or securities market of adequate liquidity (as aforesaid), the Fair Market Value of such Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights shall be determined in good faith by an Independent Financial Adviser, on the basis of a commonly accepted market valuation method and taking account of such factors as it considers appropriate, including the market price per ordinary share, the dividend yield of an ordinary share, the volatility of such market price, prevailing interest rates and the terms of such Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights, including as to the expiry date and exercise price (if any) thereof. Such amounts shall, in the case of (i) above, be translated into the Relevant Currency (if declared, announced, made, paid or payable in a currency other than the Relevant Currency, and if the relevant dividend is payable at our option or a shareholder in any currency additional to the Relevant Currency, the relevant dividend shall be treated as payable in the Relevant Currency) at the rate of exchange used to determine the amount payable to shareholders who were paid or are to be paid or are entitled to be paid the Cash Dividend in the Relevant Currency; and, in any other case, shall be translated into the Relevant Currency (if expressed in a currency other than the Relevant Currency) at the Prevailing Rate on that date. In addition, in the case of (i) and (ii) above, the Fair Market Value shall be determined on a gross basis and disregarding any withholding or deduction required to be made on account of tax, and disregarding any associated tax credit.

 

“Independent Financial Adviser” means an independent financial institution of international repute appointed by us at our own expense.

 

“ordinary shares” means our ordinary shares with a nominal value of £1.00 each.

 

“Other Securities” means any securities including without limitation, shares in our capital, or options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase or acquire shares in our capital (and each an “Other Security”).

 

“Relevant Currency” means sterling or, if at the relevant time or for the purposes of the relevant calculation or determination the London Stock Exchange is not the Relevant Stock Exchange, the currency in which the ordinary shares or the Relevant Shares (as applicable) are quoted or dealt in on the Relevant Stock Exchange at such time.

 

“Relevant Stock Exchange” means the London Stock Exchange or, if at the relevant time the ordinary shares are not at that time listed and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange, the principal stock exchange or securities market on which the ordinary shares are then listed, admitted to trading or quoted or accepted for dealing.

 

“Settlement Share Depository” means a reputable financial institution, depository entity, trust company or similar entity (which in each such case is wholly independent of us) to be appointed by us on or prior to any date when a function ascribed to the Settlement Share Depository in the Indenture is required to be performed, to perform such functions and which will be required to undertake, for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the

 

 

Contingent Capital Notes, to hold the Settlement Shares (and the Alternative Consideration, if any) on behalf of such holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Capital Notes in one or more segregated accounts, unless otherwise required to be transferred out of such accounts for the purposes of the Settlement Shares Offer on terms consistent with the Indenture.

 

“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary or a subsidiary undertaking as such terms are defined in Sections 1159 and 1162 of the UK Companies Act 2006.

 

“Volume Weighted Average Price” means, in respect of an ordinary share or Other Security on any dealing day, the order book volume-weighted average price of an ordinary share or Other Security published by or derived (in the case of an ordinary share) from the relevant Bloomberg page or (in the case of an Other Security (other than ordinary shares), options, warrants or other rights) from the principal stock exchange or securities market on which such Other Securities, options, warrants or other rights are then listed or quoted or dealt in, if any, or, in any such case, such other source as shall be determined in good faith to be appropriate by an Independent Financial Adviser on such dealing day, provided that if on any such dealing day such price is not available or cannot otherwise be determined as provided above, the Volume Weighted Average Price of an ordinary share, Other Security, option, warrant or other right, as the case may be, in respect of such dealing day shall be the Volume Weighted Average Price, determined as provided above, on the immediately preceding dealing day on which the same can be so determined or determined as an Independent Financial Adviser might otherwise determine in good faith to be appropriate.

 

 

UK AND U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES

 

The following is a summary of material UK and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Contingent Capital Notes by a U.S. Holder described below, that is not connected with us for relevant tax purposes, that holds the Contingent Capital Notes and any Settlement Shares or ADSs representing a Settlement Share as capital assets and that purchases the Contingent Capital Notes in their initial offering at their issue price. For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a Contingent Capital Note, Settlement Share or ADS representing a Settlement Share that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i) a citizen or individual resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organised in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (iii) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

 

This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to U.S. Holders in light of their particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax and Medicare contribution tax consequences, or differing tax consequences that may apply to holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

·

persons who are resident in the United Kingdom or are temporary non-residents of the United Kingdom for UK tax purposes;

 

·

certain financial institutions;

 

·

insurance companies;

 

·

dealers in securities or foreign currencies;

 

·

persons holding Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares or ADSs as part of a hedge or other integrated transaction;

 

·

persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

·

partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

·

persons carrying on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in the United Kingdom or carrying on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency in the United Kingdom; or

 

·

persons holding the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares or ADSs in connection with a trade or business conducted outside the United States.

 

If a partnership holds a Contingent Capital Note, Settlement Share or ADS, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partnership or partner of a partnership holding a Contingent Capital Note, Settlement Share or ADS should consult its tax adviser.

 

The following discussion assumes that the company was not for the taxable year ended December 31, 2014, and will not become in the foreseeable future, a “passive foreign investment company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “PFIC”) – see “United States—Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) Considerations”.

 

The statements regarding UK and U.S. tax laws and practices set out below, including those regarding the UK/U.S. double taxation convention relating to income and capital gains (the “Treaty”), are based on those laws, practices and conventions as of the date of this prospectus supplement, save where expressly stated to the contrary. They are subject to changes in those laws, practices and conventions, and any relevant judicial decision, which changes may have retroactive effect. This summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations that may be relevant in the particular circumstances of each U.S. Holder. In particular, this summary does not deal with the tax treatment of the Contingent Capital Notes following any exercise of UK bail-in power. You should satisfy yourself as to the tax consequences in your own particular circumstances of the acquisition, ownership, disposition and, if applicable, any conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs.

 

 

United Kingdom

 

Taxation of Contingent Capital Notes

 

Payments of Interest. Interest that we pay on the Contingent Capital Notes will not be subject to withholding or deduction for or on account of UK tax, provided that either:

 

1.

the Taxation of Regulatory Capital Securities Regulations 2013 (the “Regulations”) apply to the Contingent Capital Notes, which will be the case if (i) the Contingent Capital Notes qualify as Additional Tier 1 instruments under Article 52 of the CRD IV Regulation (as amended from time to time) and such Contingent Capital Notes form, or formed, a component of Additional Tier 1 capital for the purposes of the CRD IV Regulation (as amended from time to time) and (ii) there are no arrangements the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of which is to obtain a tax advantage for any person as a result of such application of the Regulations, or

 

2.

the Contingent Capital Notes are and remain listed on the Irish Stock Exchange or some other “recognised stock exchange” within the meaning of Section 1005 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

 

In all other cases, a sum on account of UK income tax must generally be withheld at the basic rate (currently 20%), unless one of certain exceptions relating to the status of the holder applies. In particular, certain U.S. Holders will be entitled to receive payments free of withholding on account of UK income tax under the Treaty and will under current HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) administrative procedures be able to make a claim for the issuance of a direction by HMRC to this effect. However, such directions will be issued only on prior application to the relevant tax authorities by the holder in question. If the Regulations do not apply to the Contingent Capital Notes, the Contingent Capital Notes are not listed on a recognised stock exchange (in each case as described above), and such a direction is not given, we will generally be required to withhold tax, although a U.S. Holder entitled to relief under the Treaty may subsequently claim the amount withheld from HMRC.

 

Payments of interest on the Contingent Capital Notes constitute UK-source income for UK tax purposes and, as such, may be subject to UK tax by direct assessment, irrespective of the residence of the holder. Where the payments are made without withholding on account of UK tax, the payments will not be assessed to UK tax if you are not resident in the UK for tax purposes, except if you carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a UK branch or agency, or in the case of a corporate U.S. Holder, if you carry on a trade in the UK through a permanent establishment in the UK in connection with which the payments are received or to which the Contingent Capital Notes are attributable, in which case (subject to exemptions for payments received by certain categories of agent) tax may be levied on the UK branch, agency or permanent establishment.

 

Any person in the UK paying interest to, or receiving interest on behalf of, certain other persons, may be required to provide information in relation to the payment (including the name and address of the beneficial owner of the interest, whether or not resident in the UK) to HMRC. HMRC may communicate this information to the tax authorities of other jurisdictions.

 

Disposal, Redemption and Automatic Conversion. Subject to the provisions set out in the next paragraph in relation to temporary non-residents, a U.S. Holder will not, upon the disposal, or redemption or Automatic Conversion of a Contingent Capital Note, be liable for UK taxation on gains realised, unless at the time of the disposal, redemption or Automatic Conversion the U.S. Holder is resident for tax purposes in the UK or carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a branch or agency in the UK or, in the case of a corporate U.S. Holder, if the U.S. Holder carries on a trade in the UK through a permanent establishment in the UK and the Contingent Capital Note was used in or for the purposes of the trade, profession or vocation or acquired for use and used by or held for the purposes of that branch or agency or permanent establishment.

 

A U.S. Holder who is an individual and who has ceased to be resident for tax purposes in the UK for a period of five tax years or less and who disposes of a Contingent Capital Note (including on redemption or in connection with any receipt of Alternative Consideration) during that period may be liable to UK tax on chargeable gains arising during the period of absence in respect of the disposal or redemption or in connection with the receipt of Alternative Consideration, subject to any available exemption or relief.

 

 

A U.S. Holder who is an individual or other non-corporation taxpayer will not, upon transfer or redemption of a Contingent Capital Note, recognise any UK income tax charge on accrued but unpaid payments of interest, unless the U.S. holder at any time in the relevant tax year was resident for tax purposes in the UK or carried on a trade in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency to which the Contingent Capital Note is attributable.

 

Annual Tax Charges. Corporate U.S. Holders who are not resident for tax purposes in the UK and who do not carry on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in the UK to which the Contingent Capital Notes are attributable will not be liable to UK tax charges or relief by reference to fluctuations in exchange rates or in respect of profits, gains and losses arising from the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Taxation of Settlement Shares and ADSs

 

Payments of Dividends

 

Any dividends that we may pay on our ordinary shares will not be subject to withholding or deduction for or on account of UK tax.

 

Dividends on our ordinary shares would constitute UK source income for UK tax purposes and, as such, may be subject to UK tax by direct assessment, irrespective of the residence of the holder. However, dividends in respect of the Settlement Shares or the ADSs will not be assessed to UK tax if you are not resident in the UK for tax purposes, except if you carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a UK branch or agency, or in the case of a corporate U.S. Holder, if you carry on a trade in the UK through a permanent establishment in the UK in connection with which the payments are received or to which the Settlement Shares or ADSs are attributable, in which case (subject to exemptions for payments received by certain categories of agent) tax may be levied on the UK branch, agency or permanent establishment.

 

Disposal

 

Subject to the provisions set out in the next paragraph in relation to temporary non-residents, a U.S. Holder will not, upon disposal of a Settlement Share or ADS, be liable for UK taxation on gains realised, unless at the time of the disposal the U.S. Holder is resident for tax purposes in the UK or carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a branch or agency in the UK or, in the case of a corporate U.S. Holder, if the U.S. Holder carries on a trade in the UK through a permanent establishment in the UK and the Settlement Share or ADS was used in or for the purposes of the trade, profession or vocation or acquired for use and used by or held for the purposes of that branch or agency or permanent establishment.

 

A U.S. Holder who is an individual and who has ceased to be resident for tax purposes in the UK for a period of five tax years or less and who disposes of a Settlement Share or ADS during that period may be liable to UK tax on chargeable gains arising during the period of absence in respect of the disposal, subject to any available exemption or relief.

 

Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

 

Provided that the Regulations apply to the Contingent Capital Notes (see above), no UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax will be payable on the issue or transfer of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

No UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax will be payable by a holder on a redemption of the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

No liability for UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax should arise for a holder on an Automatic Conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes into Settlement Shares (not being ADSs). UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax will normally be payable on or in respect of transfers of, or agreements to transfer, Settlement Shares (not being ADSs).

 

No UK stamp duty and, on the basis of guidance published by HMRC following litigation, it is expected that no UK stamp duty reserve tax, should be payable on an Automatic Conversion of the Contingent Capital Notes into ADSs. No UK stamp duty reserve tax or, in practice, UK stamp duty, should normally be required to be paid in respect of transfers of, or agreements to transfer, ADSs.

 

 

European Union Directive on Taxation of Savings Income

 

Under the EC Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income (the “EU Savings Directive”), Member States are required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest (or similar income) paid by a person within its jurisdiction to an individual resident in that other Member State or to certain limited types of entities established in that other Member State. However, for a transitional period, Austria is instead required (unless during that period it elects otherwise) to operate a withholding system in relation to such payments deducting tax at a rate of 35% (the ending of such transitional period being dependent upon the conclusion of certain other agreements relating to information exchange with certain other countries). A number of non-EU countries, including Switzerland, and certain dependent or associated territories of certain Member States, have adopted similar measures (either provision of information or transitional withholding, a withholding system in the case of Switzerland) in relation to payments made by a person within its jurisdiction to, or collected by such a person for, an individual resident in a Member State. In addition, the Member States have entered into reciprocal provision of information arrangements or transitional withholding arrangements with certain of those dependent or associated territories in relation to payments made by a person in a Member State to, or collected by such a person for, an individual resident in one of those territories. On March 24, 2014, the Council of the European Union adopted a Directive amending the EU Savings Directive (the “amending Directive”) which, when implemented, will amend and broaden the scope of the requirements described above. The EU Member States will have until January 1, 2016 to adopt the national legislation necessary to comply with the amending Directive. The European Commission has proposed that the EU Savings Directive should be repealed, generally with effect from January 1, 2016 (or in the case of Austria, from January 1, 2017), in order to avoid overlap with EC Council Directive 2011/16/EU on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (as amended by EC Council Directive 2014/107/EU), pursuant to which Members States will be required to apply new measures on mandatory automatic exchange of information. The proposal also provides that, if it proceeds, Member States will not be required to apply the new requirements of the amending Directive. Investors who are in any doubt as to their position should consult their professional advisers.

 

United States

 

Taxation of the Contingent Capital Notes

 

Characterization of the Contingent Capital Notes

 

The Issuer believes, and the remainder of this discussion assumes, that the Contingent Capital Notes will be treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Taxation of Distributions

 

Payments of interest (and additional amounts, if any) will constitute foreign-source dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Because we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that such payments will be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends. The payments will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to corporate U.S. Holders. Subject to applicable limitations, including a requirement that we are not a PFIC as discussed below, in the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or in the preceding taxable year, dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be taxable at the favourable rates applicable to long-term capital gain. Non-corporate U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisers to determine whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to be taxed at these favourable rates.

 

Constructive Distributions

 

The conversion price in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes may be adjusted in certain circumstances pursuant to anti-dilution provisions.  Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable Treasury regulations, adjustments (or lack thereof) that have the effect of increasing a U.S. Holder’s interest in the Issuer’s assets or earnings and profits may, in certain circumstances, result in a deemed distribution to the U.S. Holder.  Any deemed distribution will generally be taxable as a dividend as described above.  U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers as to the tax consequences of any adjustments to the conversion price.

 

 

Sale, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition

 

A U.S. Holder will, upon the sale, redemption or other disposition of a Contingent Capital Note (other than the receipt of Settlement Shares or ADSs upon an Automatic Conversion, which will be treated as described below), generally recognise capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realised and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such Continent Capital Note, provided that, in the case of a redemption, the U.S. Holder does not own, and is not deemed to own, any ordinary shares of the Issuer at such time. This capital gain or loss will generally be U.S.-source capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the Contingent Capital Note for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Consequences of an Automatic Conversion

 

A conversion of Contingent Capital Notes into Settlement Shares or ADSs generally will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in, and holding period for, the Settlement Shares or ADSs received upon conversion will generally be the same as the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in, and holding period of, the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

Taxation of the Settlement Shares and ADSs

 

This discussion, to the extent it relates to ADSs, is based in part on representations by the ADS Depositary and assumes that each obligation under the ADS deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms. In general, a U.S. Holder of ADSs will be treated as the owner of the underlying ordinary shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognised if a U.S. Holder receives ADSs instead of Settlement Shares upon conversion, exchanges ADSs for the underlying ordinary shares represented by those ADSs, or exchanges Settlement Shares for ADSs.

 

The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom depositary receipts are released before shares are delivered to the depositary, or intermediaries in the chain of ownership between U.S. holders of depositary receipts and the issuer of the security underlying the depositary receipts, may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits for U.S. holders of depositary receipts. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the favourable U.S. tax rates applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. holders (described above). Accordingly, the availability of the favourable tax rates for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders could be affected by actions taken by such parties or intermediaries.

 

Taxation of Distributions

 

Distributions paid on Settlement Shares or ADSs will generally be treated in the manner described above under “—Taxation of Contingent Capital Notes—Taxation of Distributions”, with the following modifications. In the case of ADSs, a dividend will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income on the date of the ADS Depositary’s receipt of the dividend. The amount of any dividend paid in pound sterling includible in income by a U.S. Holder will be the U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the relevant exchange rate in effect on the date of such receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, the U.S. Holder generally should not be required to recognise foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. If the amount of such dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt, the U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss.

 

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

 

A U.S. Holder’s sale or other taxable disposition of Settlement Shares or ADSs will generally be treated in the manner described above under “—Taxation of Contingent Capital Notes—Sale, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition”.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) Considerations

 

In general, a foreign corporation will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to applicable “look-through rules”, either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income” or (ii) at least 50% of the average quarterly value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Although interest income is generally passive income, a special rule allows banks to treat their banking business income as non-passive. To qualify for this rule, a bank must satisfy certain requirements regarding its licensing and activities. We

 

 

believe that we were not a PFIC for our 2014 taxable year and we do not expect to become a PFIC in the foreseeable future.

 

However, PFIC status is determined annually and our PFIC status may be subject to change if we fail to qualify under this special rule for any year in which a U.S. Holder owns Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares or ADSs. If we were to be a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owned Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares or ADSs, the U.S. Holder would generally be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain reporting obligations. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisers as to the potential application of the PFIC rules to the ownership and disposition of the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares or ADSs.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Payments on, and proceeds from the sale of, Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares or ADSs that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless (i) the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. Holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle it to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Potential FATCA Withholding After December 31, 2016

 

Under certain provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder commonly referred to as “FATCA” as well as certain intergovernmental agreements between the United States and certain other countries (including the United Kingdom) together with implementing legislation and regulations, certain payments in respect of the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs made after December 31, 2016 may be subject to withholding (“FATCA withholding”) to the extent that such payments are “foreign passthru payments” to non-U.S. financial institutions (including intermediaries) that have not entered into agreements with the U.S. Treasury pursuant to FATCA or otherwise established an exemption from FATCA, or to other holders that fail to provide sufficient identifying information. Under current guidance it is not clear whether and to what extent payments on the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs will be considered foreign passthru payments subject to FATCA withholding or the extent to which foreign passthru payment withholding will be required under intergovernmental agreements or implementing legislation or regulations. Holders of Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs should consult their tax advisers as to how these rules may apply to payments they receive under the Contingent Capital Notes, Settlement Shares and ADSs.

 

 

UNDERWRITING/CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

We and the underwriters for the offering named below (the “Underwriters”) have entered into an underwriting agreement and a pricing agreement with respect to the Contingent Capital Notes. Subject to certain conditions, we have agreed to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the respective principal amounts of the Contingent Capital Notes indicated opposite such Underwriter’s name in the following table.

 

		Principal Amount of 2020 Contingent Capital Notes				Principal Amount of 2025 Contingent Capital Notes
Underwriters
RBS Securities Inc.		$	680,000,000			$	391,000,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC		$	600,000,000			$	345,000,000
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC		$	200,000,000			$	115,000,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                          Incorporated		$	200,000,000			$	115,000,000
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
CIBC World Markets Corp.		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
ING Financial Markets LLC		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
Santander Investment Securities Inc.		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
Société Générale		$	40,000,000			$	23,000,000
Total		$	2,000,000,000			$	1,150,000,000

 

The underwriting agreement and the pricing agreement provide that the obligations of the Underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the Underwriters have undertaken to purchase all the Contingent Capital Notes offered by this prospectus supplement if any of these Notes are purchased.

 

Contingent Capital Notes sold by the Underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement and may be offered to certain dealers at such initial public offering price less a selling concession not to exceed 0.750% of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes. The Underwriters may allow, and dealers may re-allow, a concession on sales to other dealers not to exceed 0.100% of the principal amount of the Contingent Capital Notes. If all the Contingent Capital Notes are not sold at the initial public offering price, the Underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.

 

We have applied for the listing of the Contingent Capital Notes on the Irish Stock Exchange. The Contingent Capital Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We have been advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters intend to make a market in the Contingent Capital Notes, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market-making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

The Contingent Capital Notes will settle through the facilities of the DTC and its participants (including Euroclear and Clearstream Banking). The CUSIP number for the 2020 Contingent Capital Notes is 780099CJ4 and the ISIN is US780099CJ48. The CUSIP number for the 2025 Contingent Capital Notes is 780099CK1 and the ISIN is US780099CK11 .

 

Certain of the Underwriters may not be U.S. registered broker-dealers and accordingly will not effect any sales within the United States except in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Société Générale is not a U.S. registered broker-dealer, and it will not effect any offers or sales of any Contingent Capital Notes in the United States unless it is through one or more U.S. registered broker-dealers as permitted by the regulations of FINRA.

 

We estimate that our total expenses for the offering, excluding underwriting commissions, will be approximately $1,420,500. The Underwriters have agreed to reimburse us for a portion of our expenses.

 

 

We have agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

It is expected that delivery of the Contingent Capital Notes will be made against payment on or about the date specified in the last paragraph of the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the fourth Business Day following the date of pricing of the Contingent Capital Notes (such settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). Trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three Business Days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade Notes on the date of pricing or the next succeeding Business Day will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Contingent Capital Notes initially will settle in T+3, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of Notes who wish to trade Notes on the date of pricing or the next Business Day should consult their own advisors.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

RBSSI, an affiliate of RBSG, is a FINRA member and an Underwriter in this offering, and has a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Accordingly, this offering will be made in compliance with the applicable provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. That rule requires that a “Qualified Independent Underwriter” meeting specified requirements participate in the preparation of the prospectus supplement and exercise its usual standard of due diligence with respect thereto. Morgan Stanley has agreed to act as the Qualified Independent Underwriter for this offering and has agreed in so acting to undertake the legal responsibilities and liabilities of an underwriter under the Securities Act, specifically those inherent in Section 11 thereof. Morgan Stanley will not receive a fee for acting as a Qualified Independent Underwriter in this offering. We have agreed to indemnify Morgan Stanley against certain liabilities incurred in connection with acting as a Qualified Independent Underwriter, including liabilities under the Securities Act. RBSSI is not permitted to sell Notes in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.

 

Some of the Underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the Underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such Underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the contingent capital notes offered hereby. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the contingent capital notes offered hereby. The Underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

In connection with the offering, the Underwriters are not acting for anyone other than us and will not be responsible to anyone other than us for providing the protections afforded to their clients nor for providing advice in relation to the offering.

 

Stabilization Transactions and Short Sales

 

In connection with the offering, each Underwriter (or any person acting for such Underwriter) may engage in short sales, stabilising transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales.

 

Short sales involve the sale by the Underwriters of a greater aggregate principal amount of Notes than they are required to purchase from us in the offering.

 

Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Contingent Capital Notes while the offering is in progress. Each Underwriter (or any person acting for such Underwriter) may over-allot Notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the

 

 

market price of the Contingent Capital Notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no obligation or assurance that any Underwriter (or any person acting on behalf of such Underwriter) will undertake any such stabilisation action. Any such stabilisation action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the Contingent Capital Notes is made, and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than 30 days after the date on which the Issuer received the proceeds of the issue, or no later than 60 days after the date of allotment of the relevant Notes, whichever is the earlier. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment must be conducted by the Underwriters in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

 

Each Underwriter may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular Underwriter repays to the other Underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the other Underwriters have repurchased Notes sold by or for the account of such Underwriter in stabilising or short-covering transactions.

 

These activities by the Underwriters may stabilise, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Contingent Capital Notes. As a result, the price of the Contingent Capital Notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market.

 

Selling Restrictions

 

United Kingdom

 

This prospectus supplement is for distribution only to persons who (i) have 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 “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus supplement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

 

Each Underwriter has represented, warranted and agreed that:

 

(a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Contingent Capital Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us;

 

(b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Contingent Capital Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and

 

(c) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (b), it has complied and will comply with COBS 22.1 (Restrictions on distribution of contingent convertible instruments—Temporary restrictions on contingent convertible instruments) (as it may be amended or replaced from time to time) with such underwriter deemed to be a “firm” for the purposes of this paragraph (c) if it is not otherwise a “firm” for the purposes of COBS. For the purposes of this paragraph (c), “firm” shall have the meaning attributed to such term in COBS.

 

European Economic Area

 

This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that, except to the extent sub-paragraph (ii) below may apply, any offer of the Contingent Capital Notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of Contingent Capital Notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant Member State of Contingent Capital Notes which are the subject of an offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement may only do so (i) in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any Underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus

 

 

pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive, in each case, in relation to such offer or (ii) if a prospectus for such offer has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State and (in either case) published, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, provided that any such prospectus has subsequently been completed by a prospectus supplement which specifies that offers may be made other than pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State, such offer is made in the period beginning and ending on the dates specified for such purpose in such prospectus or prospectus supplement, as applicable, and we have consented in writing to its use for the purpose of such offer. Except to the extent sub-paragraph (ii) above may apply, neither we nor any Underwriter have authorised, nor authorise, the making of any offer of Notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or any Underwriter to publish or supplement a prospectus for such offer.

 

In relation to each Relevant Member State, each Underwriter has severally represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make an offer of Contingent Capital Notes to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

 

(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

(b) to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the other Underwriters for any such offer; or

 

(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

 

provided that no such offer of Notes shall require us or any Underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or a supplemental prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For the purposes of this section, the expression “an offer of the Contingent Capital Notes to the public” in relation to any Contingent Capital Notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Contingent Capital Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Contingent Capital Notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State, the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

 

Hong Kong

 

The Contingent Capital Notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong) or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, The Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Contingent Capital Notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Contingent Capital Notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

 

Japan

 

The Contingent Capital Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1919, as amended) (the “FIEL”) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein

 

 

means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organised under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEL and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time.

 

Singapore

 

This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Contingent Capital Notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Contingent Capital Notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

 

Where the Contingent Capital Notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act by a relevant person which is:

 

(a)

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

(b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, then

 

“securities” (as defined in Section 239(1) of the Securities and Futures Act) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferrable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the Contingent Capital Notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act except:

 

(i)

to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the Securities and Futures Act, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the Securities and Futures Act;

 

(ii)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

(iii)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

(iv)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the Securities and Futures Act; or

 

(v)

as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

 

Switzerland

 

This prospectus supplement, as well as any other material relating to the Contingent Capital Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, do not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant to Articles 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. The Contingent Capital Notes will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and, therefore, the documents relating to the Contingent Capital Notes, including, but not limited to, this prospectus supplement, do not claim to comply with the disclosure standards of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. The Contingent Capital Notes are being offered in Switzerland by way of a private placement, i.e. to a small number of selected investors only, without any public offer and only to investors who do not purchase the Contingent Capital Notes with the intention to distribute them to the public. The investors will be individually approached by us from time to time. This prospectus supplement as well as any other material relating to the Contingent Capital Notes is personal and confidential and does not constitute an offer to any

 

 

other person. This prospectus supplement may only be used by those investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offering described herein and may neither directly nor indirectly be distributed or made available to other persons without our express consent. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in (or from) Switzerland.

 

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 Contingent Capital Notes or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the Contingent Capital Notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Contingent Capital Notes 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.

 

Trading in Ordinary Shares and American Depositary Shares of RBSG by affiliates of RBSG

 

We have applied to the SEC, and the SEC has granted our request, for exemptive relief from the provisions of Rule 101 and Rule 102 of Regulation M. Rule 101 of Regulation M provides that, subject to certain exceptions, in connection with a distribution of securities, it is unlawful for a distribution participant or any affiliated purchaser of such person, directly or indirectly, to bid for, purchase, or attempt to induce any person to bid for or purchase, a covered security during the applicable restricted period. Rule 102 of Regulation M provides that, subject to certain exceptions, in connection with a distribution of securities effected by an issuer or selling security holder, it is unlawful for such person, or any affiliated purchaser of such person, directly or indirectly, to bid for, purchase, or attempt to induce any person to bid for or purchase, a covered security during the applicable restricted period. We believe that the issuance of the Contingent Capital Notes may constitute a distribution, that RBSSI may be deemed a “distribution participant” and that RBSG affiliates may be deemed “affiliated purchasers,” and that if the offering of the Contingent Capital Notes constitutes a distribution, the restricted period would commence on the day prior to the filing with the SEC of the final prospectus supplement relating to this offering and end upon the completion of this offering. The relief that we have received allows us to bid for, purchase and induce others, in certain circumstances, to purchase our ordinary shares and ADSs in connection with specified activities.

 

Affiliates of RBSG will continue to engage, including during the offering of the Contingent Capital Notes, in one or more market activities including ordinary shares and American depositary receipts each representing the right to receive two ordinary shares of RBSG (“ADSs”), including derivatives and investor product market-making and hedging, trading by asset managers, trading by trustees and personal representatives, unsolicited brokerage, banking- related activities and trading pursuant to employee incentive plans. These market activities have occurred and are expected to continue to occur both outside and inside the United States, solely in the ordinary course of business and not in contemplation of the offering of the Contingent Capital Notes. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (“CFG”), the Group’s US-based subsidiary, and certain of CFG’s subsidiaries have also engaged and may continue to engage in unsolicited brokerage transactions in ordinary shares and ADSs in the United States and purchases of ordinary shares and ADSs in their capacity as trustees, executors and/or personal representatives of certain trusts and estates. In addition, certain affiliates of RBSG, including RBSSI, may, under certain circumstances, participate in this offering.

 

 

LEGAL OPINIONS

 

Our U.S. counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP, and U.S. counsel for the Underwriters, Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP, will pass upon certain United States legal matters relating to the Contingent Capital Notes. Our Scottish solicitors, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, will pass upon certain matters of Scots law relating to the issue and sale of the Contingent Capital Notes. Our English solicitors, Linklaters LLP, will pass upon certain matters of English law relating to the issue and sale of the Contingent Capital Notes, and Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP will pass upon certain tax matters of English law relating to the Contingent Capital Notes.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from RBSG’s 2014 Annual Report and the effectiveness of RBSG's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. The audit reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on RBSG’s consolidated financial statements and include an explanatory paragraph stating that Note 43 to the financial statements was added for the inclusion of consolidating financial information in respect of RBS plc in accordance with Regulation S-X of Rule 3-10, and (2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.