Pricing re Preference Share Issues

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC 29 February 2000 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP plc AGREES PRICE OF INSTITUTIONAL GBP£1,400 MILLION (EQUIVALENT)STOCK SETTLED PREFERENCE SHARE ISSUE The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ('RBS') is pleased to announce the pricing of a land mark, multi-tranche, stock settled preference share issue launched in connection with the acquisition of National Westminster Bank Plc. This issue, the largest global Tier 1 capital offering ever and the first multi-currency institutional offering without a step up, will comprise three tranches: $1,000 million perpetual non-call 10 year dollar preference shares to be designated 'Series 1'; $500 million perpetual non-call 5 year dollar preference shares to be designated 'Series 2'; Euro 750 million perpetual non-call 5 year euro preference shares to be designated 'Series 1'. The shares will be issued in the United States and Europe at a subscription price of US$1,000 and Euro 1,000 per share to the institutional market in the form of American Depositary Receipts and Euro preference shares. Non-cumulative preferential dividends on the Series 1 dollar preference shares will be payable in US dollars semi-annually in arrears on 30 September and 31 March, at an annual cash dividend rate of US$91.18 per Series 1 dollar preference share. Non-cumulative preferential dividends on the Series 2 dollar preference shares will be payable in US dollars semi-annually in arrears on 30 September and 31 March, at an annual cash dividend rate of US$88.17 per Series 2 dollar preference share. Non-cumulative preferential dividends on the Series 1 euro preference shares will be payable in Euros annually in arrears on 31 March, at an annual cash dividend rate of Euro 67.70 per Series 1 euro preference share. RBS is being advised in connection with the issue by Goldman Sachs International and Merrill Lynch International, which firms are serving as joint book runners. Fred Goodwin, Deputy Group Chief Executive, RBS commented: 'We are delighted with the extremely positive reaction to this transaction from the international debt community. The response to these offerings has been overwhelmingly positive and is a further endorsement of the vision expressed throughout the acquisition.' Calum Osborne, Executive Director, Goldman Sachs International commented: 'This was a unique offering by a very significant institution and the vision articulated throughout the process caught the imagination of the markets and has resulted in a very successful transaction of which we are delighted to be an adviser to the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.' Dominic Franklin, Managing Director, Merrill Lynch commented: 'This offering is a great success for RBS and is the largest single Tier 1 bank capital offering ever issued into the global debt capital markets. Merrill Lynch was delighted to have the opportunity to act as joint lead manager.' For further information, please contact: The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc Fred Goodwin Deputy Group Chief Executive 42 St. Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2YE Tel: 0131 523 2033 Ron Huggett Capital Raising Director Waterhouse Square 138-142 Holborn London EC1N 2TH Tel: 0171 293 9390 Goldman Sachs International Calum Osborne Director Goldman Sachs International Peterborough Court 133 Fleet Street London EC4A 2BB Tel:0171-774-2321 Merrill Lynch International Dominic Franklin Director Merrill Lynch International Ropemaker Place 25 Ropemaker Street London EC2Y 9LY Tel:0171-676-1704 Issued and approved for the purposes of section 57 of the Financial Services Act 1986 by Merrill Lynch International and Goldman Sachs International who are regulated in the United Kingdom by The Securities and Futures Authority Limited. Merrill Lynch International and Goldman Sachs International are acting for The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ('RBS') in relation to the proposed offerings and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than RBS for providing the protections afforded to customers of Merrill Lynch International and Goldman Sachs International nor for providing advice in relation to the proposed offerings. This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer of, or any solicitation of an offer for, securities. Any acquisition of, or application for, shares in RBS in the proposed offerings should be made only on the basis of information contained in the formal offering documents relating to the relevant class of securities to be issued in connection with the proposed offerings. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. The dollar preference shares are being offered in the United States by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from RBS that contains detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. The series 1 euro preference shares are not being publicly offered in the United States. Stabilisation/SIB.
UK 100

Latest directors dealings