6 Apr 2017 14:00
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ("RBS")
6 April 2017
Notice of 2017 Annual General Meeting and Form of Proxy
Copies of the above documents will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism today and will be available for inspection at: www.Hemscott.com/nsm.do.
The RBS Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 11 May 2017 at
2.00 pm at the RBS Conference Centre, RBS Gogarburn, Edinburgh EH12 1HQ and the Notice of Meeting will also available to view at www.rbs.com/agm.
The documents will be mailed or made available to shareholders today, together with the Strategic Report 2016 or Annual Report and Accounts 2016, as appropriate, which will also be available at www.rbs.com/annualreport
In addition to the routine AGM business the following resolutions are being proposed.
Cancellation of the share premium account and capital redemption reserve
As part of the Q3 2016 results, we announced on 28 October 2016 that we had reviewed the value of the investments in subsidiaries held in RBS, and in light of the deterioration in the economic outlook we had reduced the carrying value of the investments by £6.0 billion to £44.7 billion. This had the effect of reducing distributable reserves of RBS by £6.0 billion to £7.2 billion.
We also announced that whilst this level of distributable reserves did not impact upon our ability to pay coupons on existing securities, we intended to implement a capital reorganisation in 2017. We intend to seek shareholder approval at the 2017 AGM of a Special Resolution for cancellation of the share premium account and capital redemption reserve of RBS. The proposed capital reduction is intended to increase RBS's distributable reserves to provide greater flexibility for future distributions, coupon payments on Additional Tier 1 securities and legacy preference share redemptions.
The capital reorganisation remains subject to shareholder approval and the confirmation of the Court of Session in Edinburgh. If the capital reduction becomes effective, it would increase the amount of funds that are technically available for distribution to shareholders, but would not impact reported shareholders' equity on a consolidated basis, nor alter the RBS Group's consolidated regulatory capital, including RBS's Common Equity Tier 1 capital.
Equity Convertible Notes
In line with the authorities approved by shareholders in 2016, of which £1,160 million have been used and £340 million remain and will expire on 11 May 2017, two resolutions in connection with the issue of Equity Convertible Notes ("ECNs") are being proposed to renew these authorities: one an Ordinary Resolution giving the directors authority to allot Ordinary Shares or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1.5 billion and the other a Special Resolution empowering the directors to allot equity securities on a non-pre-emptive basis up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1.5 billion. If approved, this will provide RBS flexibility to manage its capital in the optimal way, should it wish to issue loss-absorbing capital instruments in the form of ECNs. ECNs would convert into newly issued Ordinary Shares in the Company upon the occurrence of certain events (for example, the RBS capital ratios falling below a specified level), diluting existing holdings of Ordinary Shares.
The directors may at their discretion resolve to give shareholders the opportunity to purchase the Ordinary Shares created on conversion or exchange of any Equity Convertible Notes, where desirable and practicable, and subject to applicable laws and regulations.
Authority to purchase own shares
In line with the authority approved by shareholders in 2016 which will expire on
11 May 2017, a resolution is being proposed as a Special Resolution that will, if approved, grant RBS authority to purchase its own ordinary shares on a recognised investment exchange up to a maximum of 10% of the issued Ordinary Share capital.
The directors consider it may, in certain circumstances, be in the best interests of shareholders generally for RBS to purchase its own shares and the directors will only make purchases where, in the light of market conditions prevailing at the time, they consider that such purchases will be in the best interests of shareholders generally. RBS will also require regulatory approval by the PRA for any Ordinary Share capital distributions.
The authority will expire at the next AGM or 30 June 2018 (whichever is earlier).
Name of contact and telephone number for queries:-
Investor Relations
+ 44 (0)207 672 1758
Media Relations
+44 (0)131 523 4205
Legal Entity Identifier: 2138005O9XJIJN4JPN90