NatWest Group plc Commences Cash Tender Offers for Certain of Its Outstanding Notes

LONDON, Sept. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NatWest Group plc (the "Offeror") has today launched tender offers to purchase for cash (each, an "Offer" and, together, the "Offers") any and all of certain series of its U.S. dollar denominated notes set out in the table below (the "Notes").

The Offers are being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the offer to purchase dated September 14, 2020 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (together, the "Offer Documents"). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this announcement have the same meaning as in the Offer to Purchase.

Purpose of the Offers

The Offeror is undertaking the Offers in order to provide the holders of the Notes with an opportunity to have their Notes repurchased while maintaining a prudent approach to the management of NatWest Group's capital position. The Offeror will continue to meet all of its capital requirements irrespective of the outcome of the Offers.

Terms of the Offers

The Offeror is offering to purchase for cash, on the terms and conditions described in the Offer to Purchase any and all of the outstanding Notes set out in the table below.

(1)    Per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (as defined herein) validly tendered and accepted for purchase.
(2)    Currently NatWest Group plc.
(3)    Excluding $256,427,000 principal amount of 6.425% Non-Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities, which are held by the Offeror as of the date of this Offer to Purchase and are deemed not to be outstanding.

The Trust Securities, the PROs and Tier 2 Notes are collectively referred to as the "Notes" and each, a "Series".

The Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 21, 2020, unless extended (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Deadline") or earlier terminated.

Purchase Price; Accrued Interest

Purchase Price

The Purchase Price for each $1,000 principal amount of the relevant Series validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Deadline and accepted for purchase by the Offeror will be equal to an amount (rounded to the nearest $0.01) that would reflect, as of the Settlement Date, a yield to the maturity date, in the case of Tier 2 Notes, or the yield on the first call date, in the case of Trust Securities and PROs, equal to the sum of (i) the Reference Yield for such Series of Notes, plus (ii) the Fixed Spread set forth in the table above. Specifically, the Purchase Price will equal (i) the value of all remaining payments of principal and interest on the relevant Series of Notes up to and including the scheduled maturity (in the case of the Tier 2 Notes) or the First Call Date (in the case of the Trust Securities and PROs) of the relevant Series, discounted to the Settlement Date (as defined herein), at a discount rate equal to (x) the relevant Reference Yield (as defined herein) plus (y) the relevant Fixed Spread, minus (ii) Accrued Interest (in the case of the Tier 2 Notes and PROs) or Accrued Distribution (in the case of the Trust Securities).

Accrued Interest

In addition to the Purchase Price, holders of the PROs and Tier 2 Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on each $1,000 principal amount of such Notes (rounded to the nearest $0.01) from, and including, the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the Settlement Date (as defined below) (the "Accrued Interest"). Accrued Interest for each $1,000 principal amount of such Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase will be rounded to the nearest $0.01, with $0.005 being rounded upwards.

Accrued Distribution

In addition to the Purchase Price, holders of the Trust Securities accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers will also receive an amount equal to accrued and unpaid interest on each $1,000 principal amount of such Trust Securities (rounded to the nearest $0.01) from, and including, the last distribution payment date up to, but not including, the Settlement Date (the "Accrued Distribution"). Accrued Distribution for each $1,000 principal amount of Trust Securities validly tendered and accepted for purchase will be rounded to the nearest $0.01, with $0.005 being rounded upwards.

Settlement

Unless the Offers are extended, reopened or earlier terminated, payment of the Purchase Price, plus any Accrued Interest or Accrued Distribution, as the case may be, to holders of Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn and accepted for purchase is expected to be made on September 24, 2020 (the "Settlement Date").

Offer Conditions

The Offers are not conditional upon any minimum amount of Notes being tendered. However, the Offers are conditional upon the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described in the Offer to Purchase.

Withdrawal Rights

Notes tendered pursuant an Offer may be withdrawn at any time before the earlier of (i) the Withdrawal Deadline and (ii) if the relevant Offer is extended, the 10th Business Day after the commencement of the Offers. Notes tendered pursuant to an Offer may also be withdrawn at any time after the 60th Business Day after commencement of the Offers if, for any reason, that Offer has not been consummated within 60 Business Days of commencement.

The relevant deadline set by the relevant Clearing System or any intermediary for the submission of Tender Instructions may be earlier than the deadlines set out herein.

Indicative Timetable

The following table sets out the expected dates and times of the key events relating to the Offers. This is an indicative timetable and is subject to change.

The times and dates above are subject, where applicable, to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend, limit, terminate or withdraw the Offers, subject to applicable law. Accordingly, the actual timetable may differ significantly from the expected timetable set out above.

Holders should confirm with the bank, securities broker or any other intermediary through which they hold their Notes whether such intermediary needs to receive instructions from a holder before the deadlines specified above in order for that holder to be able to participate in, or withdraw their instruction to participate in, the Offers.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Copies of the Offer Documents are available at the following web address: www.lucid-is.com/natwest

Requests for additional copies of the Offer Documents and information in relation to the procedures for tendering should be directed to:

Tender Agent
Lucid Issuer Services Limited 
Email: [email protected]
David Shilson 
Telephone: +44 20 7704-0880

NatWest Treasury Markets    
Scott Forrest                 
Email: [email protected]
Head of Treasury DCM 
Telephone: +44 (0)7747 455969

Investor Relations
Paul Pybus
Email: [email protected]
Head of Debt Investor Relations  
Telephone: +44 776 916 1183
250 Bishopsgate 
London, EC2M 4AA

Global Arranger and Lead Dealer Manager
NatWest Markets
Telephone: +44 20 7678-5222
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Liability Management

Dealer Managers

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Telephone: +1 800 828-3182
Telephone: +44 20 7552-6157
Collect: +1 212 357-0215
Toll Free: +1 800 828 3182
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Liability Management Group

UBS Investment Bank  
Telephone: + 1 888 719-4210
Collect: (203) 719 4210
U.K.: +44 20 7568 1121
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Liability Management

DISCLAIMER

This announcement and the Offer to Purchase (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer. If you are in any doubt as to the contents of this announcement or the Offer to Purchase or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial and legal advice, including as to any tax consequences, immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser. Any individual or company whose Notes are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee or intermediary must contact such entity if it wishes to participate in the Offer. None of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent or the trustee with respect to the Notes (or any of their respective directors, employees or affiliates) make any recommendation as to whether holders should tender Notes pursuant to the Offer.

OFFER RESTRICTIONS

European Economic Area ("EEA")

The communication of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers does not constitute an offer of securities to the public for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and accordingly the requirement to produce a prospectus does not apply to the Offers.

United Kingdom

The communication of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers are not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"). Accordingly, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and such other documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of the Offer to Purchase and such other documents and/or materials is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that they are only being distributed to and are only directed at persons to whom they can lawfully be circulated outside the United Kingdom or to: (i) persons in the United Kingdom having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Financial Promotion Order")); (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order; (iii) persons falling within Article 43 of the Financial Promotion Order; or (iv) any other persons to whom the Offer to Purchase and such other documents and/or materials may otherwise lawfully be communicated under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement and the Offer to Purchase and such documents and/or materials are 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 announcement and  the Offer to Purchase relate is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

Belgium

Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers have been submitted to or will be submitted for approval or recognition to the Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autorité des services et marchés financiers / Autoriteit voor financiële diensten en markten) and, accordingly, the Offers may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6 of the Belgian Law of April 1, 2007 on public takeover bids as amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Offers may not be advertised and the Offers will not be extended, and neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) have been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than "qualified investors" in the sense of Article 10 of the Belgian Law of June 16, 2006 on the public offer of placement instruments and the admission to trading of placement instruments on regulated markets, acting on their own account. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase have been issued only for the personal use of the above qualified investors and exclusively for the purpose of the Offers. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement and the Offer to Purchase may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person in Belgium.

France

This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or offering materials relating to the Offers may not be distributed in the Republic of France except to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase have not been and will not be submitted for clearance to the Autorité des marchés financiers.

Italy

None of the Offers, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other documents or materials relating to the Offers has been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa ("CONSOB"), pursuant to applicable Italian laws and regulations.

The Offers are being carried out in the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended (the "Issuers' Regulation"). The Offers are also being carried out in compliance with article 35-bis, paragraph 7 of the Issuers' Regulation.

Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes located in Italy can tender the Notes through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of February 15, 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority.

Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-à-vis its clients in connection with the Notes and the Offers.

Canada

The materials relating to the Offers do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. Any offer or solicitation in Canada must be made through a dealer that is appropriately registered under the laws of the applicable province or territory of Canada, or pursuant to an exemption from that requirement.

Hong Kong

The communication of this Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers and/or the Notes is not being made 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) (the "CWUMPO"), or (ii) under the exemptions applicable under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the "SFO") and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers and/or the Notes being a "prospectus" as defined in the CWUMPO.

General

The Offers do not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes (and offers to sell will not be accepted from the holders) in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities or other laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer or similar and any of the Dealer Managers or any of the Dealer Manager's respective affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Offers shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager or affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the Offeror in such jurisdiction.

Each holder participating in the Offers will be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out in the Offer to Purchase. Any tender of Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase from a holder that is unable to make these representations will be rejected. Each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and Lucid Issuer Services Limited reserves the right, in its absolute discretion (and without prejudice to the relevant holder's responsibility for the representations made by it), to investigate in relation to any tender of Notes, whether any such representation given by a holder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Offeror determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such offer to sell will be rejected.

The Offeror and its affiliates expressly reserve the right at any time or from time to time following completion or termination of the Offers, to purchase or exchange or offer to purchase or exchange Notes or to issue an invitation to submit offers to sell Notes (including, without limitation, those tendered pursuant to the Offers but not accepted for purchase) through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers, exchange offers or otherwise, in each case on terms that may be more or less favorable than those contemplated by the Offers. In addition, the Offeror also reserves the right to issue new debt securities from time to time, including during the term of the Offers. 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014. For the purposes of MAR, this announcement is made by ALEXANDER HOLCROFT, HEAD OF INVESTOR RELATIONS FOR natwest group plc.

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".  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 the Offer to Purchase, in our Annual Report and H1 2020 Interim Report which are incorporated by reference herein and in our interim report on Form 6-K containing our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended as at March 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on May 1, 2020 (the "Q1 2020 Interim Report") and "Forward-Looking Statements" in our Annual Report and H1 2020 Interim Report, which are incorporated by reference in the Offer to Purchase. You should also read the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in our Q1 2020 Interim Report.

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 U.K. 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 the Offer to Purchase 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.

SOURCE NatWest Group plc

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