The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities nor do they seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-203157

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated September 6, 2016

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(to prospectus dated March 31, 2015)

 

 

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

 

$                          % Senior Notes due 2023

 

The          % Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Senior Notes”) will bear interest at a rate of             % per annum from (and including) the date of issuance to (but excluding) the maturity of the Senior Notes on              , 2023. Interest will be paid on the Senior Notes semi-annually in arrear on           and                of each year, beginning on                , 2017.

 

The Senior Notes will constitute our direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, ranking pari passu without any preference among themselves, and equally with all our other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, present and future, except such obligations as are preferred by operation of law.

 

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between us and any holder or beneficial owner of the Senior Notes, by its acquisition of the Senior Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Senior 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 which may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of RBSG (as defined herein) or another person and/or (iii) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of the Senior Notes, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the Senior 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 Senior Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of such UK bail-in power. Each holder and beneficial owner of the Senior Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders and/or beneficial owners under the Senior 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.

 

By its acquisition of the Senior Notes, each holder (including each beneficial holder) of the Senior 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 Senior Notes.

 

We may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole but not in part, at any time at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest to the date of redemption, upon the occurrence of certain tax events as described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

We intend to apply to list the Senior Notes on the New York Stock Exchange in accordance with its rules.

 

Investing in the Senior Notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 and as incorporated by reference herein.

 

By its acquisition of the Senior Notes, each holder (including each beneficial holder) shall be deemed to have (i) consented to the exercise of any UK bail-in power which may be imposed without any prior notice by the relevant UK resolution authority of its decision to exercise such power with respect to the Senior 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 Senior Notes to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of any UK bail-in power with respect to the Senior Notes as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such holder.

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) 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.

 

	Per Senior Note		Total
Price to the public	%		$
Underwriting discounts	%		$
Proceeds, before expenses, to us	%		$

 

The initial price to the public set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the Senior Notes will accrue from , 2016 and must be paid by the purchaser if the Senior Notes are delivered thereafter.

 

The Senior Notes will be issued in registered form in denominations of $200,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We expect that the Senior Notes will be ready for delivery through the book-entry facilities of DTC and its participants on or about              , 2016.

 

Global Coordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Lead Manager
RBS
Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers
BNP PARIBAS	BofA Merrill Lynch	Morgan Stanley

 

Prospectus Supplement dated September          , 2016

 

 

table of contents

____________________

 

	Page
Prospectus Supplement
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT	S-ii
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE	S-ii
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	S-iv
SUMMARY	S-1
RISK FACTORS	S-4
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS	S-13
USE OF PROCEEDS	S-14
CAPITALIZATION OF THE GROUP	S-15
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES	S-16
DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES	S-17
UK AND U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES	S-22
UNDERWRITING/CONFLICTS OF INTEREST	S-25
LEGAL OPINIONS	S-30
EXPERTS	S-31
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 Receipts	20
Description of Contingent Convertible Securities	25
Description of Certain Provision Relating to the Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities	32
Description of Ordinary Shares	38
Description of Ordinary Share American Depositary Receipt	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 us or on our behalf 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.

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

In this prospectus supplement, we use the following terms:

 

·

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

 

·

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

 

·

“RBS plc” refers to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc;

 

·

“SEC” refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

·

“Indenture” refers to the Amended and Restated Indenture dated as of September 13, 2011 (the “Amended and Restated Indenture”), as amended and supplemented in respect of all series of senior debt securities by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 2014 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 5, 2016, (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Amended and Restated Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Base Indenture”) and as amended and supplemented by one or several supplemental indentures to be dated as of September , 2016 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) governing the Senior Notes.

 

·

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

 

·

“U.S. dollar”, “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 U.S. 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:

 

·

documents incorporated by reference 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:

 

·

our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2016 (File No. 001-10306) (the “2015 Annual Report”);

 

·

our interim report on Form 6-K containing an announcement relating to our results under the 2016 EBA Stress Tests, filed with the SEC on August 1, 2016 (File No. 001-10306);

 

 

·

our interim report on Form 6-K containing our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six-months ended and as at June 30, 2016, together with certain other information, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2016 (File No. 001-10306) (the “H1 2016 Interim Report”); and

 

·

our interim report on Form 6-K containing an announcement relating to the redemption of our American depositary shares representing non-cumulative USD preference shares series R and T, filed with the SEC on August 24, 2016 (File No. 001-10306).

 

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 each of our 2015 Annual Report and H1 2016 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 Financial Conduct Authority (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 including the 2015 Annual Report and the H1 Interim Report and the risk factors included therein) and reach their own views prior to making any investment decision with respect to the Senior Notes.

 

Set out below and incorporated by reference herein are certain risk factors that, if they were to materialise, 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 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.

 

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 Senior Notes. In addition, each of the highlighted risks could adversely affect the trading price of the Senior Notes or the rights of investors under the Senior 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 Senior Notes.

 

Risks relating to RBSG and the Group

 

For an up to date description of the risks associated with RBSG and the Group, including certain risks associated with investments in RBSG’s securities, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section in our 2015 Annual Report, as updated by the risk factors and other information included in our H1 2016 Interim Report, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Risks relating to the Senior Notes

 

Regulatory actions in the event a bank or investment firm in the Group is failing or likely to fail could materially adversely affect the value of the Senior Notes and your rights thereunder.

 

Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms (the “BRRD”) provides an EU-wide framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, their subsidiaries and certain holding companies. The BRRD requires all European Economic Area (“EEA”) member states to provide their relevant resolution authorities with a set of tools to intervene sufficiently early and quickly with respect to an institution which is failing or likely to fail so as to ensure the continuity of the institution’s critical financial and economic functions, while minimizing the impact of an institution’s failure on the broader economy and financial system.

 

In the United Kingdom, the majority of the requirements of the BRRD have been implemented into national law in 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”) and other legislation. The UK implementation of the BRRD included the introduction of the UK bail-in tool as of January 1, 2015. For more information on the UK bail-in tool, see “—The relevant UK resolution authority may exercise the UK bail-in tool in respect of RBSG and the Senior Notes, which may result in holders of the Senior Notes losing some or all of their investment” and “—Under the terms of the Senior Notes, you have agreed to be bound by the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority” below.

 

The Banking Act confers substantial powers on relevant UK authorities designed to enable them to take a range of actions in relation to UK banks or investment firms and certain of their affiliates in the event a bank or investment firm in the same group is considered to be failing or likely to fail. The exercise of any of these actions in relation to RBSG or any entity within the Group could materially adversely affect the value of the Senior Notes.

 

Under the Banking Act, substantial powers are granted to the Bank of England (or, in certain circumstances, HM Treasury), in consultation with the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”), the FCA and HM Treasury, as

 

 

appropriate as part of a special resolution regime (the “SRR”). These powers enable the relevant UK resolution authority to implement resolution measures with respect to a UK bank or investment firm and certain of its affiliates (including, for example, RBSG) (each a “relevant entity”) in circumstances in which the relevant UK resolution authority is satisfied that the resolution conditions are met. Under the applicable regulatory framework and pursuant to guidance issued by the Bank of England, governmental financial support, if any is provided, would only be used as a last resort measure where a serious threat to financial stability cannot be avoided by other measures (such as the stabilization options described below, including the UK bail-in power) and subject to the limitations set out in the Banking Act.

 

Several stabilization options are available to the relevant UK resolution authority under the SRR, where a resolution has been triggered, including: (i) private sector transfer of all or part of the business of the relevant entity, which can include either its shares or its property; (ii) transfer of all or part of the business of the relevant entity to a “bridge bank” established by the Bank of England pending a future sale or share issuance; (iii) an asset separation tool which allows assets and liabilities of the firm to be transferred to and managed by an asset management vehicle; (iv) the UK bail-in tool (as described further below); and (v) temporary public ownership (nationalization). In addition, the UK resolution authority may commence special administration or liquidation procedures applicable to financial institutions.

 

Further, the Banking Act grants broad powers to the UK resolution authority, the application of which may adversely affect contractual arrangements (including the Senior Notes) and which include the ability to (i) modify or cancel contractual arrangements to which an entity in resolution is party, in certain circumstances; (ii) suspend or override the enforcement provisions or termination rights that might be invoked by counterparties facing an entity in resolution, as a result of the exercise of the resolution powers; and (iii) disapply or modify laws in the UK (with possible retrospective effect) to enable the powers under the Banking Act to be used effectively.

 

The exercise of the stabilization powers or other powers conferred on the UK resolution authority under the Banking Act with respect to us, or any suggestion of any such exercise, could materially adversely affect the value or trading liquidity of the Senior Notes or your rights under the Senior Notes and could lead to holders of the Senior Notes losing some or all of the value of their investment in the Senior Notes.

 

The SRR is designed to be triggered prior to our insolvency and holders of the Senior Notes may not be able to anticipate the exercise of any resolution power (including the UK bail-in power) by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

The stabilization options are intended to be applied prior to the point at which any insolvency proceedings with respect to the relevant entity could have been initiated. Accordingly, the stabilization options may be exercised if the relevant UK resolution authority: (i) is satisfied that a UK bank or investment firm is failing, or is likely to fail; (ii) determines that it is not reasonably likely that (ignoring the stabilization powers) action will be taken by or in respect of a UK bank or investment firm that will result in condition (i) above ceasing to be met; (iii) considers the exercise of the stabilization powers to be necessary, having regard to certain public interest considerations (such as the stability of the UK financial system, public confidence in the UK banking system and the protection of depositors, being some of the special resolution objectives) and (iv) considers that the special resolution objectives would not be met to the same extent by the winding-up of the UK bank or investment firm.

 

In the event that the relevant UK resolution authority seeks to exercise its powers in relation to a UK banking group company (such as RBSG), the relevant UK resolution authority has to be satisfied that (A) the conditions set out in (i) to (iv) above are met in respect of a UK bank or investment firm in the same banking group (or, in respect of an EEA or third country credit institution or investment firm in the same banking group, the relevant EEA or third country resolution authority is satisfied that the conditions for resolution applicable in its jurisdiction are met) and (B) certain criteria are met, such as the exercise of the powers in relation to such UK banking group company being necessary having regard to public interest considerations.

 

The use of different stabilization powers is also subject to further “specific conditions” that vary according to the relevant stabilization power being used.

 

Although the SRR sets out the pre-conditions for determining whether an institution is failing or likely to fail, it is uncertain how the Bank of England would assess such conditions in any particular pre-insolvency scenario affecting RBSG and/or other members of the Group and in deciding whether to exercise a resolution power. In

 

 

addition, upon the United Kingdom formally terminating its membership of the European Union, the Bank of England may adopt new or different criteria for determining the conditions to the exercise of its resolution powers. Further regulatory developments, including proposals by the Financial Stability Board on cross-border recognition of resolution actions, could also influence the conditions for the exercise of the stabilisation powers. There has been no application of the SRR powers in the UK to a large financial institution, such as RBSG, to date, which could provide an indication of the relevant UK resolution authority’s approach to the exercise of the resolution powers, and even if such examples existed, they may not be indicative of how such powers could be applied to RBSG. Therefore, holders of the Senior Notes may not be able to anticipate a potential exercise of any such powers nor the potential effect that the exercise of such powers could have on RBSG, the Group and the Senior Notes. Uncertainty relating to the exercise of such powers may lead to increased volatility in the trading of the Senior Notes and may affect their market value.

 

With respect to UK bail-in powers specifically, there remains uncertainty as to how they may be exercised and how they would affect us and the Senior Notes. The determination that all or part of the principal amount of the Senior Notes will be subject to loss absorption is likely to depend on a number of factors which may be outside of our control. In particular, in determining whether an institution is failing or likely to fail, the relevant UK resolution authority 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 authorisation.

 

Moreover, as the final criteria that the relevant UK resolution authority would consider in exercising any bail-in power provide it with considerable discretion, holders of the Senior Notes may not be able to refer to publicly available criteria in order to anticipate a potential exercise of any such power and consequently its potential effect on the Issuer, the Group and the Senior Notes. The relevant UK resolution authority is also not required to provide any advance notice to holders of the Senior Notes of its decision to exercise any resolution power.

 

Because of this inherent uncertainty, it will be difficult to predict when, if at all, the exercise of any stabilisation power, including the 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 Senior Notes.

 

The relevant UK resolution authority may exercise the UK bail-in tool in respect of RBSG and the Senior Notes, which may result in holders of the Senior Notes losing some or all of their investment.

 

The UK bail-in tool is one of the powers available to the UK resolution authority under the SRR and was introduced under the Banking Act. The UK government amended the provisions of the Banking Act to ensure the consistency of these provisions with the bail-in provisions under the BRRD, which amendments came into effect on January 1, 2015.

 

The UK bail-in tool was introduced as an additional power available to the Bank of England (as a relevant UK resolution authority), to enable it to recapitalize a failed institution by allocating losses to its shareholders and unsecured creditors (which would include holders of the Senior Notes) in a manner that (i) reflects the hierarchy of capital instruments and otherwise ought to respect the hierarchy of claims in an ordinary insolvency and (ii) is consistent with shareholders and creditors not receiving a less favourable treatment than they would have received in ordinary insolvency proceedings of the relevant entity (known as the “no creditor worse off” safeguard). Certain liabilities are excluded from the scope of the UK bail-in tool, such as insured deposits and liabilities that are secured. The Banking Act also grants the power for the relevant UK resolution authority to exclude any liability or class of liabilities on certain prescribed grounds (including financial stability grounds) and subject to specified conditions.

 

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 a liability or modify the terms of contracts for the purposes of reducing or deferring the liabilities of the relevant entity under resolution and the power to convert a liability from one form or class to another. The exercise of such powers may result in the cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, interest on, or any other amounts payable on, the Senior Notes and/or the conversion of all or a portion of the principal amount of, interest on, or any other amounts payable on, the Senior Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of RBSG or another person. In addition, the Bank of England may use the UK bail-in tool to, among other things, replace or substitute RBSG as obligor in respect of the Senior Notes, modify the terms of the Senior Notes (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 the Senior Notes.

 

Moreover, and as described above where there exists a threat that the UK resolution authority may exercise the UK bail-in power, the trading and market price of the Senior Notes may be affected and should therefore not necessarily be expected to follow the trading behaviour associated with similar types of securities not subject to the UK bail-in power. Additionally, to the extent the UK bail-in power is exercised to convert the Senior Notes into securities, any securities you receive upon conversion of your Senior Notes (whether debt or equity) likely may not be listed for at least an extended period of time, if at all, or may be on the verge of being delisted by the relevant exchange, including, for example, our American depositary receipts listed on the New York Stock Exchange or our ordinary shares listed on the London Stock Exchange or otherwise. Moreover, the exercise of the UK bail-in power and/or other actions implementing the UK bail-in power may require interests in the Senior Notes to be held or taken, as the case may be, through clearing systems, intermediaries or persons other than DTC. Furthermore, the trustee may be unwilling to continue serving in its capacity as trustee for the Senior Notes, subject to the terms of the Indenture. As a result, there may not be an active market for any securities you may hold after the exercise of the UK bail-in power.

 

As a potential investor in the Senior Notes, you should consider the risk that you may lose all of your investment, including the principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest if the UK bail-in power is acted upon or that such Senior Notes may be converted into ordinary shares or other instruments of us or a Group entity which may be of little value at the time of conversion and thereafter. In addition, trading behaviour, including prices and volatility, may be affected by the threat of bail-in and as a result the Senior Notes may not follow the trading behaviour associated with other types of securities.

 

Although the above represents the risks associated with the UK bail-in power currently in force in the UK and applicable to our securities (including the Senior Notes), changes to the scope of, or conditions for the exercise of the UK bail-in power may be introduced as a result of further developments, including those resulting from the outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU in favour of the UK leaving the EU. In addition, further political, legal or strategic developments may lead to structural changes to the Group, including at the holding company level. Notwithstanding any such changes, we expect that our securities (including the Senior Notes) would remain subject to the exercise of a form of bail-in power, either pursuant to the provisions of the Banking Act, the BRRD or otherwise.

 

Under the terms of the Senior 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 and the relevant rules adopted in the UK to transpose such requirements, subject to limited exceptions, unsecured liabilities of a financial institution governed by the laws of a country outside of the European Economic Area (which include the Senior Notes, the terms of which are governed by New York Law) must contain a contractual acknowledgment whereby the holders recognise 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.

 

As a result, and notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between us and any holder or beneficial owner of the Senior Notes, by its acquisition of the Senior Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Senior 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 which may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of RBSG or another person; and/or (iii) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of the Senior Notes, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the Senior 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 Senior Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of such UK bail-in power. Each holder and beneficial owner of the Senior Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders and/or beneficial owners under the Senior 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, conversion, transfer, modification or suspension 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, 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 any obligations of a bank, banking group company, credit institution or investment firm or any of its affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, modified, transferred and/or converted into shares or other securities or obligations of the obligor or any other person (or suspended for a temporary period) or pursuant to which any right in a contract governing such obligations may be deemed to have been exercised. A reference to the “relevant UK resolution authority” is to any authority with the ability to exercise a UK bail-in power.

 

Any UK bail-in power may be exercised in such a manner as to result in you and other holders of Senior Notes losing the value of all or a part of your investment in the Senior Notes or receiving a different security from the Senior Notes, which may be worth significantly less than the Senior Notes and which may 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 Senior Notes.

 

Neither a reduction or cancellation, in part or in full, of the principal amount of or any interest on the Senior Notes, the conversion thereof into another security or obligation of RBSG or another person, as a result of the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect of the Senior Notes will of itself constitute an a default or event of default under the terms of the Senior Notes or the Indenture.

 

For more information, see “Description of the Senior Notes—Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of UK Bail-in Power”.

 

Holders’ rights may be limited in respect of the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

There may be limited protections, if any, that will be available to holders of securities subject to the UK bail-in power (including the Senior Notes) and to the broader resolution powers of the relevant UK resolution authority. Although we expect, according to the principles of the Banking Act, that the relevant UK resolution authority would respect creditor hierarchies when exercising its UK bail-in power in respect of the Senior Notes and that the noteholders would be treated pari passu with the claims of holders of all our senior unsecured instruments which in each case by law rank, or by their terms are expressed to rank, pari passu with the Senior Notes at that time being subjected to the exercise of the UK bail-in power, the rules provide for some exceptions to these principles which the relevant resolution authority may choose to rely upon. In addition, holders of securities will have a right to be compensated in the event of the exercise of the UK bail-in power with respect to the Senior Notes, based on the principle that such investors should receive no less favourable treatment than they would have received had RBSG entered into insolvency immediately before the initial exercise of the resolution powers pursuant to the UK bail-in power. However, even in circumstances where a claim for compensation is established under the “no creditor worse off” safeguard in accordance with a valuation performed after the resolution action has been taken, it is unlikely that such compensation would be equivalent to the full losses incurred by the holders of the Senior Notes in the resolution and there can be no assurance that such holders would recover such compensation promptly. In addition, due to the discretion afforded to the Bank of England, the claims of some creditors whose claims would rank equally with yours may be excluded from being subject to the UK bail-in tool. The greater number of such excluded creditors there are, the greater the potential impact of the UK bail-in tool on other creditors who have not been excluded (which may include you). As the implementation of these provisions remains to be tested and may be further amended, there can be no certainty as to how these legal protections or remedies would be implemented by the relevant UK resolution authority.

 

Further, although the Bank of England’s resolution instrument with respect to the exercise of the UK bail-in tool must set out the provisions allowing for securities to be transferred, cancelled or modified (or any combination of these), the resolution instrument may make any provision that the Bank of England considers to be appropriate in exercising its specific powers. Such other provisions are expected to be specific and tailored to the circumstances

 

 

that have led to the exercise of the UK 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 Senior Notes) or that the “no creditor worse off” safeguard 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 changes in law may adversely affect your rights as noteholders.

 

Changes in law after the date hereof may affect your rights as a holder of Senior Notes as well as the market value of the Senior 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 Senior Notes and the market value of the Senior Notes. Such changes in law may include changes in statutory, tax and regulatory regimes during the life of the Senior 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 Senior Notes.

 

In particular, any developments resulting from the outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU in favour of the UK leaving the EU may lead to significant changes to the laws applicable in the UK as more particularly described in our H1 2016 Interim Report in the section entitled “Risk Factors—Economic, regulatory and political uncertainty arising from the outcome of the recent referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union could adversely impact the Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects” and may adversely affect your rights under the Senior Notes.

 

In addition, any change in tax law or regulation may entitle us to redeem the Senior Notes, in whole (but not in part), as more particularly described under “—Risks Relating to the Senior Notes—We may redeem the Senior Notes for certain tax reasons.” below and “Description of the Senior Notes—Tax Redemption.”

 

Such legislative and regulatory uncertainty could also affect the value the Senior Notes and therefore affect the trading price of the Senior Notes given the extent and impact on the Senior Notes that one or more regulatory or legislative changes could have on the Notes.

 

The Senior Notes are effectively subordinated to our secured indebtedness.

 

The Senior Notes are unsecured and will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Senior Notes are our obligations exclusively and are not guaranteed by any person, including any of our subsidiaries. By reason of such subordination, in the event of our insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding up, our assets will be available to pay the amounts due on the Senior Notes only after all our then existing secured indebtedness has been paid in full.

 

The Senior Notes are not bank deposits and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund, or any other government agency.

 

The Senior Notes are our obligations but are not bank deposits. In the event of our insolvency, the Senior Notes will rank equally with our other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations and will not have the benefit of any insurance or guarantee of the Federal Deposit insurance Corporation, The Deposit Insurance Fund, or any other government agency.

 

Our holding company structure may mean that our rights to participate in assets of any of our subsidiaries upon its liquidation may be subject to prior claims of some or all of its creditors, including when we have loaned or otherwise advanced the proceeds received from the issuance of the Senior Notes to such subsidiary.

 

We are a non-operating holding company and, as such, our principal source of income is derived from our operating subsidiaries that hold the principal assets of the Group. As a separate legal entity, we rely on, among other things, remittance of our subsidiaries’ loan interest payments and dividends in order to be able to meet our obligations to you as they fall due. The ability of our subsidiaries and affiliates to pay dividends depends on the earnings and financial condition of our subsidiaries and various business considerations. Statutory, contractual or other restrictions may also limit our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make distributions, loans or advances to

 

 

us. For these reasons, we may not have access to any assets or cash flows of our subsidiaries to make payments on our Senior Notes.

 

In addition, the Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries. This means that because we are a holding company, our rights to participate as a shareholder in the assets of any subsidiary if it is liquidated will be subject to the prior claims of its creditors and any preference shareholders, except to the extent that we may be a creditor with recognised claims ranking ahead of or pari passu with such prior claims against the subsidiary. If any of our subsidiaries were wound up, liquidated or dissolved (i) the noteholders would have no right to proceed against the assets of such subsidiary and (ii) the liquidator of such subsidiary would first apply the assets of such subsidiary to settle the claims of such subsidiary’s creditors and/or preference shareholders (including holders of such subsidiary’s senior debt and tier 2 and tier 1 capital instruments (if any)) before we would be entitled to receive any distributions.

 

The terms of the Senior Notes also do not constrain how we make our investments in, or advance funds to, our subsidiaries, including the proceeds of issuances of debt securities, such as the Senior Notes, and as to how we may restructure existing investments and funding in the future. The ranking of our claims in respect of such investments and funding in the event of the liquidation of a subsidiary, and their treatment in resolution, will depend in part on their form and structure and the types of claim that they give rise to. The purposes of such investments and funding, and any such restructuring, may include, among other things, the provision of different amounts or types of capital or funding to particular subsidiaries, including for the purposes of meeting regulatory requirements, such as the implementation of any minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (“MREL”) (or any equivalent requirements imposed by the PRA), including as amended to transpose the terms of the Financial Stability Board ( “FSB”) final standards for total loss absorbing capital (“TLAC”) requirements, in respect of such subsidiaries. The PRA’s current consultation on the implementation of MREL in the UK, would, consistent with the FSB’s TLAC term sheet, require instruments eligible for MREL/TLAC issued by us to be structurally subordinated to senior liabilities of our operating subsidiaries. The capital raised through issuances of MREL/TLAC eligible liabilities by us would then be transferred downstream to our material operating subsidiaries in the form of capital or another form of subordinated claim. In this way, MREL/TLAC eligible instruments issued by us will be structurally subordinated to senior liabilities of our operating companies, allowing losses from such operating companies to be transferred to us. The MREL/TLAC requirements remain subject to consultation and implementation in the UK (including in light of the UK’s anticipated termination of its membership of the EU) and further amendments at the European level and could result in increased funding requirements for us and/or such subsidiaries.

 

In addition, the terms of some loans or investments in capital instruments issued by our subsidiaries may contain contractual mechanisms that, upon the occurrence of a trigger related to the prudential or financial condition of such subsidiary, would result in a write-down of the claim or a change in the ranking and type of claim that we have against such subsidiary. Any changes in the legal or regulatory form or ranking of a loan or investment could also affect its treatment in resolution.

 

We may issue securities pari passu with the Senior Notes and/or secured debt.

 

There is no restriction under the Indenture on the amount of securities that we may issue that rank pari passu with the Senior Notes. In particular, the FSB final standards for TLAC requirements for global systemically important banks will apply to us once implemented in the United Kingdom, and we expect to issue between £3 to £5 billion principal amount of securities per annum between 2016 and 2019 in order to meet these TLAC requirements. We may issue additional senior debt securities to replace some of our outstanding debt or to meet additional regulatory requirements.

 

Furthermore, the terms of the Indenture permit us (and our subsidiaries) to incur additional debt, including secured debt. The Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness or other liabilities.

 

We may redeem the Senior Notes for certain tax reasons.

 

We may redeem the Senior Notes at any time in whole (but not in part) upon the occurrence of certain tax events, as more particularly described under “Description of the Senior Notes—Tax Redemption” below. Certain of such events may occur at any time after the issue date and it is therefore possible that we would be able to redeem the Senior Notes at any time after the issue date.

 

 

If we redeem the Senior Notes in any of the circumstances mentioned above, you may not be able to reinvest the amounts received upon redemption at a rate that will provide the same rate of return as your investment in such Senior Notes.

 

The credit risk of RBSG, its credit ratings, and its credit spreads may adversely affect the value of the Senior Notes prior to maturity and its ability to pay all amounts due on the Senior Notes.

 

The Senior Notes are our senior unsecured debt securities. As a result, your receipt of all payments of interest and principal on the Senior Notes is dependent on our ability to repay our obligations on the applicable payment date. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be at any time during the term or on the maturity date of the Senior Notes. Consequently, all payments on the Senior Notes will be subject to the credit risk of RBSG and not that of any of our subsidiaries, including RBS plc. Any actual or anticipated decline in RBSG’s credit ratings, changes in the market’s view of its creditworthiness or any increase in its credit spreads charged by the market for taking credit risk are likely to adversely affect the value of the Senior Notes prior to maturity and cause the liquidity of the Senior Notes to decline significantly.

 

Our credit ratings are an assessment, by each rating agency, of our ability to pay our obligations, including those under the Senior Notes. Any rating assigned to us or the Senior Notes may be withdrawn entirely by a credit rating agency, may be suspended or may be lowered, if, in that credit rating agency’s judgment, circumstances relating to the basis of the rating so warrant. Ratings may be impacted by a number of factors which can change over time, including the credit rating agency’s assessment of: our strategy and management’s capability; our financial condition including in respect of capital, funding and liquidity; competitive and economic conditions in our key markets; the level of political support for the industries in which we operate; the sovereign rating of the UK; and legal and regulatory frameworks affecting our legal structure, business activities and the rights of our creditors. The credit rating agencies may also revise the ratings methodologies applicable to issuers within a particular industry, or political or economic region. In particular, following the outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union in favour of the UK leaving the EU, rating agencies downgraded the UK’s credit ratings and/or changed or maintained their outlook for the UK to negative. Credit agencies also changed their outlook for a number of UK banks (excluding the Group) to negative. If credit rating agencies perceive there to be adverse changes in the factors affecting our credit rating, including by virtue of changes to applicable ratings methodologies, the credit rating agencies may downgrade, suspend or withdraw the ratings assigned to us or other Group entities. An improvement in our credit ratings will not necessarily increase the value of the Senior Notes and will not reduce market risk and other investment risks related to the Senior Notes. Credit ratings (i) do not reflect the risk that interest rates may rise, which may affect the values of the Senior Notes, which accrue interest at a fixed rate, (ii) do not address the price, if any, at which the Senior Notes may be resold prior to maturity (which may be substantially less than the original offering price of the Senior Notes), and (iii) are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the Senior Notes.

 

An active trading market may not develop for the Senior Notes.

 

There is no existing trading market for the Senior Notes. We intend to apply for listing of the Senior Notes on the New York Stock Exchange. There is, however, no assurance that the Senior Notes will be accepted for listing or remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange and, if listed, that an active trading market will develop or, if developed, that it will continue. We have been advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters intend to make a market in the Senior 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 Senior Notes. If an active trading market does not develop or is not maintained, the market price and liquidity of the Senior Notes may be adversely affected. In that case, holders of the Senior Notes may not be able to sell Senior Notes at a particular time or may not be able to sell Senior Notes at a favourable price. The liquidity of any market for the Senior Notes will depend on a number of factors including:

 

·

the number of holders of the Senior Notes;

 

·

our ratings published by major credit rating agencies;

 

·

our financial performance;

 

·

the market for similar securities;

 

 

·

the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the Senior Notes;

 

·

prevailing interest rates; and

 

·

the introduction of any financial transactions tax.

 

Investors should be aware that the materialization of any of the above risks may adversely affect the value of the Senior Notes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

H1 2016 Interim Report

 

Please refer to our H1 2016 Interim Report, which contains recent developments, including in relation to (i) the Group’s strategic plan, (ii) the risk factors applicable to the Group and (iii) the Group’s ongoing litigation, investigation and reviews, and which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Issuance of Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Additional Tier 1 Capital Notes

 

On August 15, 2016, we issued $2,650,000,000 8.625% perpetual subordinated contingent convertible additional tier 1 capital notes (callable August 15, 2021 and every five years thereafter).

 

2016 EBA Stress Tests

 

Please refer to page 108 of our H1 2016 Interim Report for our results under the 2016 EBA Stress Tests.

 

Redemption of Fixed to Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2021

 

On August 1, 2016, we announced our intention to redeem on September 22, 2016 our €1,000,000,000 Fixed to Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2021 (the “Euro Subordinated Notes”) issued under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme. The amount of the Euro Subordinated Notes currently outstanding is €1,000,000,000.

 

CMA Final Report

 

As anticipated, on August 9, 2016, the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) published its final report following a marketing investigation reference into retail banking. The CMA concluded that there are a number of competition concerns in the provision of personal current accounts (“PCA”), business current accounts and SME lending, particularly around low levels of customers searching and switching, resulting in banks not being put under enough competitive pressure, and new products and new banks not attracting customers quickly enough. The final report sets out measures to address these concerns, which are largely consistent with those included in its preliminary report. These include measures to make it easier for customers to compare products, ensure customers benefit from technological advantages around open banking, improve the current account switching service and provide PCA overdraft customers with greater control over their charges, along with additional measures targeted at SME customers. We are continuing to assess the impact of the report.

 

Redemption of American depositary shares representing non-cumulative USD preferences shares series R and T

 

On August 24, 2016, we announced our intention to redeem series R and T of our outstanding dollar preference shares, represented by American depositary shares (the “Preference Shares”) on September 23, 2016.

 

The redemption amount with respect to each series of Preference Shares shall be paid out of distributable reserves of RBSG. Approximately $1.535 billion of the Preference Shares are expected to be redeemed, reducing RBSG’s retained earnings and distributable items by approximately £1.16 billion (subject to currency movements). Common Equity Tier 1 Capital will be reduced by approximately £0.4 billion (subject to currency movements) reflecting the foreign exchange loss since the Preference Shares were issued.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds from the issue of the Senior Notes are expected to amount to $                            after deduction of the underwriting commission and the other expenses incurred in connection with the issue of the Senior 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, 2016.

 

	As at June 30, 2016
	Actual		As Adjusted(1)
	£ million		£ million
Share capital – allotted, called up and fully paid
Ordinary shares of £1.00	11,755
Non-cumulative preference shares of $ 0.01(2)	1
Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01(3)	-
Non-cumulative preference shares of £1.00(4)	-
	11,756
Retained income and other reserves	41,151
Owners’ equity	52,907
Group indebtedness
Subordinated liabilities	20,113
Debt securities in issue	27,148
Total indebtedness	47,261
Total capitalisation and indebtedness	100,168

 

____________________

 

(1)

The ‘As Adjusted’ column reflects the effects of the issue of the Senior Notes offered hereby. Amounts shown have been converted from dollars to sterling at a rate of $1.3263=£1.00, the rate used to translate assets and liabilities as at June 30, 2016. 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)

As at June 30, 2016, there were 87,868,941 Non-cumulative preference shares of $0.01 outstanding, representing $878,689.

 

(3)

As at June 30, 2016, there were 2,044,418 Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01 outstanding, representing €20,444.

 

(4)

As at June 30, 2016, 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.

 

On August 15, 2016 we issued $2,650,000,000 8.625% perpetual subordinated contingent convertible additional tier 1 capital notes (callable August 15, 2021 and every five years thereafter).

 

Other than as disclosed above, the information contained in the table above has not changed materially since June 30, 2016.

 

On August 1, 2016, we announced our intention to redeem on September 22, 2016 our €1,000,000,000 Fixed to Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2021 (the “Euro Subordinated Notes”) issued under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme. The amount of the Euro Subordinated Notes currently outstanding is €1,000,000,000.

  

On August 24, 2016, we announced our intention to redeem series R and T of our outstanding dollar preference shares, represented by American depositary shares (the “Preference Shares”), on September 23, 2016. The redemption amount with respect to each series of Preference Shares shall be paid out of distributable reserves of RBSG. Approximately $1.535 billion of the Preference Shares are expected to be redeemed, reducing RBSG’s retained earnings and distributable items by approximately £1.16 billion (subject to currency movements). Common Equity Tier 1 Capital will be reduced by approximately £0.4 billion (subject to currency movements) reflecting the foreign exchange loss since the Preference Shares were issued.

 

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

 

		Six-months ended June 30,				Year Ended December 31,
		2016(3)				2015				2014				2013				2012				2011
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference share dividends(1)(2)
– including interest on deposits			0.70				0.17				1.52				(0.51	)			0.13				0.78
– excluding interest on deposits			0.34				(1.17	)			2.61				(5.12	)			(3.73	)			(0.86	)
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges only(1)(2)
– including interest on deposits			0.81				0.19				1.67				(0.55	)			0.13				0.78
– excluding interest on deposits			0.48				(1.60	)			3.58				(6.95	)			(4.80	)			(0.86	)

 

____________________

 

(1)

For this purpose, earnings consist of income 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 half year ended June 30, 2016 and years ended December 31, 2015, 2013, 2012, and 2011, were inadequate to cover total fixed charges and preference share dividends. The coverage deficiency for total fixed charges and preference share dividends for the half year ended June 30, 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was £482 million ($639 million), £3,088 million ($4,709 million), £9,247 million ($14,493 million), £6,353 million ($10,117 million) and £1,860 million ($2,996 million), respectively. The coverage deficiency for fixed charges for the half year ended June 30, 2016 and years ended December 31, 2015, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was £274 million ($363 million), £2,703 million ($4,122 million), £8,849 million ($13,869 million), £6,052 million ($9,637 million) and £1,860 million ($2,996 million), respectively. Dollar amounts have been converted from sterling at the following rates which are the average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last US business day of each month during the relevant year: (i) $1.3263 for the half year ended June 30, 2016 (ii) $1.5250 for the year ended December 31, 2015, (iii), $1.5673 for the year ended December 31, 2013; (iv) £1 = $1.5924 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and (v) £1 = $1.6105 for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

(3)

Based on unaudited numbers.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES

 

The following is a summary of certain terms of the Senior Notes. It supplements the description of the general terms of the debt securities of any series we may issue contained in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of Debt Securities.” If there is any inconsistency between the following summary and the description in the accompanying prospectus, the following summary governs.

 

Senior Notes

 

The Senior Notes will be issued in an aggregate principal amount of $        and will mature on        , 2023. From and including the date of issuance, interest will accrue on the Senior Notes at a rate of                  % per annum.

 

Interest will accrue from        , 2017. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrear on            and          of each year, commencing on       , 2017. The regular record dates for the Senior Notes will be the           and           of each year immediately preceding the interest payment dates on          and              , respectively.

 

If any scheduled interest payment date is not a business day, we will pay interest on the next business day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after the scheduled interest payment date. If the scheduled maturity date or date of redemption (in the circumstances described in “—Tax Redemption” below) or repayment is not a business day, we may pay interest and principal on the next succeeding business day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after the scheduled maturity date or date of redemption or repayment.

 

A “business day” means any day, other than Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorised or required by law or regulation to close in the City of New York or in the City of London.

 

General

 

The Senior Notes will constitute our direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations ranking pari passu, without any preference among themselves, and equally with all our other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, present and future, except such obligations as are preferred by operation of law.

 

The Senior Notes will constitute a separate series of senior debt securities issued under the Indenture. Book-entry interests in the Senior Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Interest on the Senior Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

The principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in London, United Kingdom, is designated as the principal paying agent. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of paying agents or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.

 

We will issue the Senior Notes in fully registered form. The Senior Notes will be represented by global securities registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. You will hold beneficial interest in the Senior Notes through the DTC and its participants. The Underwriters expect to deliver the Senior Notes through the facilities of the DTC on                       , 2016. For a more detailed summary of the form of the Senior Notes and settlement and clearance arrangements, you should read “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities—Form of Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities; Book-Entry System” in the accompanying prospectus. Indirect holders trading their beneficial interests in the Senior Notes through the DTC must trade in the DTC’s same-day funds settlement system and pay in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading through Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg.

 

Definitive debt securities will only be issued in limited circumstances described under “Description of Certain Provisions Relating to Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities—Form of Debt Securities and Contingent Convertible Securities; Book-Entry System” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

Payment of principal of and interest on the Senior Notes, so long as the Senior Notes are represented by global securities, will be made in immediately available funds. Beneficial interests in the global securities will trade in the same-day funds settlement system of the DTC, and secondary market trading activity in such interests will therefore settle in same-day funds.

 

We may, without the consent of the holders of the Senior Notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and same interest rate, maturity date, redemption terms and other terms as the Senior Notes described in this prospectus supplement except for the price to the public and issue date of such Senior Notes, provided however that if such additional notes have the same CUSIP, ISIN and/or Common Code as the outstanding Senior Notes, such additional notes must be fungible with the outstanding Senior Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such additional notes, together with the Senior Notes offered by this prospectus supplement, may constitute a single series of Senior Notes under the Indenture. There is no limitation on the amount of notes or other debt securities that we may issue under the Indenture.

 

Tax Redemption

 

We may redeem the Senior Notes in whole but not in part upon not less than five business days or more than sixty calendar days’ notice to the holders of Senior Notes in the event of certain changes in the tax laws of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein having the power to tax and certain other limited circumstances. In the event of such a redemption, the redemption price of the Senior Notes will be 100% of their principal amount together with any accrued but unpaid payments of interest and additional amounts to the date of redemption.

 

If we elect to redeem the Senior Notes, they will cease to accrue interest from the redemption date, unless we fail to pay the redemption price on the payment date. The circumstances in which we may redeem the Senior Notes and the applicable procedures are described further in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities—Redemption.”

 

Agreement with Respect to the Exercise of UK Bail-in Power

 

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between us and any holder or beneficial owner of the Senior Notes, by its acquisition of the Senior Notes, each holder and beneficial owner of the Senior 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 which may result in (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, or interest on, the Senior Notes into ordinary shares or other securities or other obligations of RBSG or another person; and/or (iii) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of the Senior Notes, or amendment of the amount of interest due on the Senior 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 Senior Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant UK resolution authority of such UK bail-in power. Each holder and beneficial owner of the Senior Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders and/or beneficial owners under the Senior 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, conversion, transfer, modification or suspension 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, 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 any obligations of a bank, banking group company, credit institution or investment firm or any of its affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, modified, transferred and/or converted into shares or other securities or obligations of the obligor or any other person (or suspended for a temporary period) or pursuant to which any right in a contract governing such obligations may be deemed to have been exercised.

 

 

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

 

No repayment of the principal amount of the Senior Notes or payment of interest on the Senior 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 European Union applicable to us and the Group.

 

If we have elected to redeem the Senior 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 the Senior Notes, the relevant redemption notices shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, and no payment of the redemption amount will be due and payable.

 

The exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority shall not constitute a default or event of default under the terms of the Senior Notes or the Indenture.

 

In addition, by its acquisition of the Senior Notes, each holder (including each beneficial holder) of the Senior Notes:

 

(i)

acknowledges and agrees that the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Senior Notes shall not give rise to a Default or Event of 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)

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 Senior Notes;

 

(iii)

agrees that, upon the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Senior Notes,

 

a.

the Trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from holders of the notes under Section 5.12 (Control by Holders) of the Indenture, which section authorises holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes to direct certain actions relating to the notes, and

 

b.

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 in respect of the Senior Notes, the Senior 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 such Senior Notes), then the Trustee’s duties under the Indenture shall remain applicable with respect to the Senior Notes following such completion to the extent that we and the Trustee shall agree pursuant to a supplemental indenture.

 

(iv)

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

 

For a discussion of certain risk factors relating to the UK bail-in power, see “Risk Factors - Risks relating to the Senior Notes”.

 

 

Upon the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Senior 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.

 

Payment of Additional Amounts

 

The government of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein having the power to tax may require us to withhold or deduct amounts from payments on the Senior Notes for taxes or other governmental charges. If such a withholding or deduction is required, we may be required, subject to certain exceptions, to pay additional amounts such that the net amount paid to holders of the Senior Notes, after such deduction or withholding, equals the amount that would have been payable had no such withholding or deduction been required. For more information on additional amounts and the situations in which we must pay additional amounts, see “Description of Debt Securities—Additional Amounts” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

In addition to the exceptions to our gross-up obligations set forth in the accompanying prospectus, we will not pay additional amounts in respect of any withholding or deduction required to be made pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“FATCA”), any U.S. Treasury regulation issued under FATCA or any official interpretations or guidance issued with respect thereto, any agreement with the U.S. Treasury entered into in connection with FATCA, any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with FATCA, or any law, regulation, or other official interpretation or guidance enacted, promulgated or issued in any jurisdiction to implement such an intergovernmental agreement.

 

Waiver of Right to Set-Off

 

By accepting a Senior Note, each holder (including each beneficial holder) will be deemed to have waived any right of set-off, counterclaim or combination of accounts with respect to such Senior Note or the Indenture (or between our obligations under or in respect of any Senior Note and any liability owed by a holder) that they might otherwise have against us, whether before or during our winding up.

 

Discharge

 

We can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on the Senior Notes, except for various obligations described below, if the Senior Notes have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year and we deposit in trust for your benefit and the benefit of all other direct holders of the Senior Notes a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Senior Notes on their various due dates. In addition, on the date of such deposit, we must not be in default. For purposes of this no-default test, a default would include an event of default that has occurred and not been cured, as described under “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default and Defaults; Limitation of Remedies—Senior Debt Security Event of Default” in the accompanying prospectus. A default for this purpose would also include any event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.

 

However, even if we take these actions, a number of our obligations under the Indenture will remain.

 

Trustee; Direction of Trustee

 

The Issuer’s obligations to indemnify the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.07 of the Indenture shall survive the exercise of the UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority with respect to the Senior Notes.

 

By its acquisition of the Senior Notes, each holder (including each beneficial holder) of the Senior Notes acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise of any UK bail-in power by the relevant UK resolution authority, (a) the Trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from holders of the Senior Notes under Section 5.12 (Control by Holders) of the Indenture, which authorises holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes to direct certain actions relating to the Senior Notes, and (b) neither the Base Indenture nor the Supplemental Indenture shall impose any 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 Senior

 

 

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 Senior Notes), then the Trustee’s duties under the Indenture shall remain applicable with respect to the Senior Notes following such completion to the extent that the Issuer and the Trustee shall agree pursuant to a supplemental indenture or an amendment to the Indenture.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Trustee may decline to act or accept direction from holders unless it receives written direction from holders representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes and security and/or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion. The Indenture shall not be deemed to require the Trustee to take any action which may conflict with applicable law, or which may be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in the direction, or which would subject the Trustee to undue risk or for which it is not indemnified to its satisfaction in its sole discretion.

 

The Trustee makes no representations regarding, and shall not be liable with respect to, the information set forth in this prospectus supplement.

 

Subsequent Holders’ Agreement

 

Holders of the Senior Notes that acquire the Senior 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 Senior Notes that acquire the Senior Notes upon their initial issuance, including, without limitation, with respect to the acknowledgement and agreement to be bound by and consent to the terms of the Senior Notes related to the UK bail-in power.

 

Governing Law

 

The Senior Notes and the Indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Listing

 

We intend to apply for the listing of the Senior Notes on the New York Stock Exchange in accordance with its rules.

 

 

 

 

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 Senior Notes by a “U.S. holder” described below, that is not connected with us for relevant tax purposes, that holds the Senior Notes as capital assets and that purchases the Senior Notes in their initial offering at their “issue price,” which will be equal to the first price at which a substantial amount of the Senior Notes is sold for money to the public (not including bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers). For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of a Senior Note 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 organized 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 or Medicare contribution tax consequences, as well as differing tax consequences that might apply to holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

·

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

 

·

certain financial institutions;

 

·

insurance companies;

 

·

dealers in securities or foreign currencies;

 

·

persons holding Senior Notes 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; or

 

·

persons carrying on a trade in the UK through a permanent establishment in the UK or carrying on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a branch or agency in the UK.

 

If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds a Senior Note, 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 Senior Note should consult its tax advisor.

 

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. 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 any Senior Note following any exercise of the UK bail-in power. You should satisfy yourself as to the tax consequences in your own particular circumstances of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Senior Notes.

 

United Kingdom

 

Payments of Interest. Interest that we pay on the Senior Notes will not be subject to withholding or deduction for or on account of UK tax, provided that the Senior Notes are and remain listed on the New York 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 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 or 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 (Including Redemption). Subject to the provisions set out in the next paragraph in relation to temporary non-residents, a U.S. holder will not, upon disposal (including redemption) of a Senior Note, be liable for UK taxation on gains realized, 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 Senior 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 Senior Note during that period may be liable to UK tax on chargeable gains arising during the period of absence in respect of the disposal (including redemption), subject to any available exemption or relief.

 

A U.S. holder who is an individual or other taxpayer not subject to corporation tax will not, upon transfer or redemption of a Senior 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, profession or vocation in the UK through a branch or agency to which the Senior 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 UK through a permanent establishment in the UK to which the Senior 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 Senior Notes.

 

Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax. No UK stamp duty should be payable on the issue of the Senior Notes into a clearance service or depositary receipt arrangement.

 

UK SDRT may arise on the issue, and UK SDRT or UK stamp duty may arise on the transfer, of the Senior Notes into a clearance service or depositary receipt arrangement, in each case at a rate of 1.5%. However, following litigation, HMRC have confirmed that it will not collect such SDRT on the issue, or (where integral to the raising of capital) the transfer, of the Senior Notes into a clearance service or depositary receipt arrangement on the basis that the charge is not compatible with European law, provided that the Senior Notes comprise loans raised by the issue of debentures or other negotiable securities for the purposes of Article 5(2)(b) of the Capital Duty Directive (2008/7/EC).

 

No UK stamp duty should be required to be paid on the transfer of the Senior Notes within a clearance service or depositary receipt arrangement provided that no instrument is used to effect the transfer. No UK SDRT should be payable on the transfer of the Senior Notes within a clearance service or depositary receipt arrangement provided

 

 

that no election has been made under which the alternative system of charge (as provided for in section 97A Finance Act 1986) applies to the Senior Notes.

 

No UK stamp duty or SDRT should be payable on the redemption of the Senior Notes.

 

European Union Directive on Taxation of Savings Income. European Council Directive 2003/48/EC (the “Savings Directive”) required Member States to provide to the tax authorities of other Member States details of payments of interest and other similar income paid by a person within its jurisdiction to (or for the benefit of) 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 was instead required to operate a withholding system (subject to a procedure whereby, on meeting certain conditions, the beneficial owner of the interest or other income may request that no tax be withheld) unless during such period they elected otherwise (the ending of such transitional period being dependent upon the conclusion of certain other agreements relating to information exchange with certain other countries).

 

Council Directive (EU) 2015/2060 provides for the repeal of the Savings Directive generally with effect from January 1, 2016 or, in the case of Austria, from January 1, 2017. This is in order to avoid overlap with Council Directive 2011/16/EU on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (as amended by Council Directive 2014/107/EU), pursuant to which Member States are required to apply new measures on mandatory automatic exchange of information.

 

United States

 

Interest on a Senior Note (including any UK tax withheld) will be includable in income by a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Interest income from the Senior Notes (including any UK tax withheld) will constitute foreign source income, which may be relevant to a U.S. holder in calculating the U.S. holder’s foreign tax credit limitation. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income.

 

A U.S. holder will, upon sale, exchange or redemption of a Senior Note, generally recognise capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized (not including amounts attributable to accrued interest, which will be treated as ordinary interest income as described above) and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Senior Note. Any gain or loss will generally be U.S. source capital gain or loss and will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Senior Note has been held for more than one year at the time of disposition. Long-term capital gains recognised by non-corporate U.S. holders are generally eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. Information returns may be filed with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with payments on the Senior Notes and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the Senior Notes. A U.S. holder may be subject to U.S. backup withholding at a current rate of 28% on these payments and proceeds if the U.S. holder fails to provide its taxpayer identification number and comply with certain certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from 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 the U.S. holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Certain U.S. holders who are individuals (or entities closely-held by individuals) may be required to report information relating to non-U.S. accounts through which the U.S. holders may hold their Senior Notes (or information regarding the Senior Notes if the Senior Notes are not held through any financial institution). U.S. holders should consult their tax advisers regarding their reporting obligations with respect to the Senior Notes.

 

 

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 Senior 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 Senior Notes indicated opposite such Underwriter’s name in the following table.

 

	Principal Amount of Senior Notes
Underwriters
RBS Securities Inc.	$
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.	$
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith  Incorporated	$
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC	$
Total	$

 

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 Senior Notes offered by this prospectus supplement if any of these Senior Notes are purchased.

 

The Senior 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. If all the Senior Notes are not sold at the initial public offering price, the Underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.

 

We intend to apply for the listing of the Senior Notes on the New York Stock Exchange. The Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior Notes.

 

The Senior Notes will settle through the facilities of the DTC and its participants (including Euroclear and Clearstream Banking). The CUSIP number for the Senior Notes is                 and the ISIN is                     .

 

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 FINRA.

 

We estimate that our total expenses for the offering, excluding underwriting commissions will be approximately $                            .

 

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

 

It is expected that delivery of the Senior 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 third Business Day following the date of pricing of the Senior Notes (such settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”).

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

RBSSI, an affiliate of RBSG, is a FINRA member and an Underwriter in this offering, 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. RBSSI is not permitted to sell Senior 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 Senior Notes. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Senior Notes. 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, the Underwriters may purchase and sell Senior Notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing 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 Senior 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 Senior Notes while the offering is in progress, or, for a limited time after the issue date, over-allotment of the Senior Notes or transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Senior 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 stabilization action. Any such stabilization action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the Senior 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 Senior Notes, whichever is the earlier.

 

The Underwriters 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 Senior Notes sold by or for the account of such Underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering transactions.

 

These activities by the Underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Senior Notes. As a result, the price of the Senior Notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the Underwriters at any time and stabilizing transactions must be brought to an end after a limited period. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

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 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 Senior Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and

 

(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 Senior Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

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 Senior 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 Senior Notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant Member State of Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the other Underwriters nominated by us 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 Senior 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 Senior Notes to the public” in relation to any Senior 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 Senior Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Senior 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 (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

 

 

Hong Kong

 

The Senior 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 (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) 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 (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 organized 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 Senior Notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Senior 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 (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person (as defined under Section 275(2) of the SFA), 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 Senior 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 SFA)) 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 SFA) 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 Senior Notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

(i)

to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, , or (in the case of a corporation) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in Section 276(3)(i)(B) of the SFA or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

(ii)

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

 

 

(iii)

where the transfer is by operation of law.

 

Switzerland

 

This prospectus supplement, as well as any other material relating to the Senior 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 Senior Notes will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and, therefore, the documents relating to the Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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.

 

Canada

 

The Senior Notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the Senior Notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

 

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the Underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

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 Senior Notes or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the Senior 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 Senior 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.

 

 

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 Senior Notes. Our Scottish solicitors, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, will pass upon certain matters of Scots law relating to the issue and sale of the Senior Notes. Our English solicitors, Linklaters LLP, will pass upon certain matters of English law relating to the issue and sale of the Senior Notes, and Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP will pass upon certain tax matters of English law relating to the Senior Notes.

 

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from RBSG’s 2015 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 reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on RBSG’s consolidated financial statements and include an explanatory paragraph stating that Note 41 to the financial statements was added for the inclusion of consolidating financial information in respect of RBS plc in accordance with Regulation S-X 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

 

$                    % Senior Notes due 2023

 

_______________

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

(to prospectus dated March 31, 2015)

 

_______________

 

Global Coordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Lead Manager
RBS
Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers
BNP PARIBAS	BofA Merrill Lynch	Morgan Stanley