As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3 August 2007
Registration No. 333-144752
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 2
to
Form F-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of registrant name into English)
United Kingdom (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
6029 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
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RBS Gogarburn, PO Box 1000 Edinburgh EH12 1HQ United Kingdom 011 44 131 556 8555 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices) |
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CT Corporation System 111 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10011 (212) 894 8940 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent of service) |
Copies to: | ||||||
Thomas B. Shropshire, Jr. Lawrence Vranka, Jr. Linklaters LLP One Silk Street London EC2Y 8HQ United Kingdom 011 44 20 7456 2000 |
Bonnie Greaves George Karafotias Shearman & Sterling LLP Broadgate West 9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP United Kingdom 011 44 20 7655 5000 |
William P. Rogers, Jr. Richard Hall Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP CityPoint One Ropemaker Street London EC2Y 9HR United Kingdom 011 44 20 7453 1000 |
Gregory B. Astrachan Maurice M. Lefkort Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP 1 Angel Court London EC2R 7HJ United Kingdom 011 44 20 7696 5454 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and all other conditions to the consummation of the transaction described in this document have been satisfied or waived.
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities to be registered(1) |
Amount to be registered(2) |
Proposed maximum offering price per unit |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(3) |
Amount of registration fee(4) |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ordinary shares, nominal value £0.25 per share | 130,521,875 | Not Applicable | $6,673,109,673 | $204,864 | ||||
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
This Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 initially filed by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc on 20 July 2007 is being filed solely for the purpose of amending the exhibit list and adding exhibits to the Registration Statement.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 20. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Except as hereinafter set forth, there is no provision of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of RBS (the "Company") or any contract, arrangement or statute under which any director or officer of the Company is insured or indemnified in any manner against any liability that he may incur in his capacity as such.
Deed of Indemnity
The Company has entered into Deeds of Indemnity with the directors and officers of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (referred to herein as the "RBS Bank Group") that, subject to certain conditions precedent, in consideration of such director or officer continuing in or accepting office as a (i) director of officer of (a) any company within the RBS Bank Group or (b) a company in which a member of the RBS Bank Group is to invest or has invested in less than 50% of the issued share capital of such company (an "Investee Company"), or (ii) an authorised or approved person (or equivalent) under the rule of any regulatory body, the Company will indemnify the director or officer, his estate and his personal representatives from all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him in the actual or purported execution and/or discharge of his duties and/or the exercise or purported exercise of his powers and/or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his duties, powers or office including any liability incurred by him as an authorised or approved person (or equivalent) (but only to the extent that such position is held in pursuance of the business of the RBS Bank Group) or in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him as an officer or employee of any company within the RBS Bank Group (or of an Investee Company) and in which decree or judgment is given in his favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on his part) or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application for relief from liability in respect of any such act or omission in which relief is granted to him by the Court.
In light of recent amendments to the Companies Act 1985, on 30 March 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amended form of Deed of Indemnity, which will be subject to the provisions of Section 309A of the Companies Act 1985.
Article 169 of the Company's Articles of Association provides:
"Subject to the provisions of and so far as may be consistent with the Statutes, every Director, Secretary or other officer of the Company, and, if the Directors so determine, an Auditor, shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him in the actual or purported execution and/or discharge of his duties and/or the exercise or purported exercise of his powers and/or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his duties, powers or office including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him as an officer or employee or Auditor of the Company and in which decree or judgment is given in his favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on his part) or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application for relief from liability in respect of any such act or omission in which relief is granted to him by the Court".
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Section 309A of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended by the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004) provides:
(a) the company, or (b) an associated company, against any liability within subsection (1) is void
This is subject to subsections (4) and (5).
(a) the company, or (b) an associated company, insurance against any liability within subsection (1).
Section 309B of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended by the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004) provides:
(a) to the company, or (b) to any associated company.
(a) a fine imposed in criminal proceedings, or (b) a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature (however arising).
(a) in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted, or (b) in defending any civil proceedings brought by the company, or an associated company, in which judgment is given against him, or (c) in connection with any application under any of the following provisions in which the court refuses to grant him relief, namely:
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(i) section 144(3) or (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee), or (ii) section 727 (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct).
(a) if not appealed against, at the end of the period for bringing an appeal, or (b) if appealed against, at the time when the appeal (or any further appeal) is disposed of.
(a) if it is determined and the period for bringing any further appeal has ended, or (b) if it is abandoned or otherwise ceases to have effect.
Section 727 of the Companies Act 1985 provides:
Any underwriters of securities registered on this registration statement will each agree, severally, to indemnify the Company's directors, the Company's officers who sign the registration statement and the Company's authorised representative in the United States from and against certain civil liabilities based on information relating to such underwriter furnished in writing by such underwriter expressly for use herein.
The Company will agree to indemnify the Company's authorised representative in the United States from and against certain directors' and officers' liabilities.
In addition, the Company has obtained directors' and officers' insurance coverage, which, subject to policy terms and limitations, includes coverage to reimburse the Company for amounts that it may be required or permitted by law to pay directors or officers of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defence of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statements Schedules.
Exhibit Number |
Description |
|
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3 | Memorandum and articles of association of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Post-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed on 22 June 2004 (SEC File No. 333-100661) | |
4.1 |
Form of Deposit Agreement between RBS and The Bank of New York, as depositary (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Registration Statement on Form F-6, relating to RBS ADSs, filed on July 20, 2007) |
|
4.2 |
Form of American Depositary Receipts representing RBS American Depositary Shares, each evidencing the right to receive one share of RBS (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 herein) |
|
5* |
Opinion of Dundas & Wilson LLP regarding validity of securities being registered |
|
8.1* |
Opinion of Linklaters LLP regarding certain United States federal income tax matters |
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8.2* |
Opinion of Linklaters LLP regarding certain U.K. tax matters |
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8.3* |
Opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding certain Dutch tax matters |
|
10.1* |
Consortium and Shareholders' Agreement, dated 28 May 2007, among The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A., Fortis N.V., Fortis SA/NV and RFS Holdings B.V. |
|
10.2* |
Letter dated 16 May 2007 from Merrill Lynch International to Fortis N.V. and Fortis SA/NV |
|
10.3* |
Letter dated 28 May 2007 from Merrill Lynch International to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc |
|
10.4* |
Letters dated 5 May 2007 from Dresdner Bank AG to Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. |
|
10.5* |
Letters dated 5 May 2007 from Calyon Sucursal en España to Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. |
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10.6* |
Letters dated 14 May 2007 from ING Bank N.V. to Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. |
|
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10.7* |
Letter dated 27 May 2007 from Merrill Lynch International to Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. |
|
10.8* |
Letter dated 22 June 2007 from Calyon Sucursal en España to Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. |
|
10.9* |
Letter dated 22 June 2007 from Dresdner Bank AG to Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. |
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10.10* |
Letter dated 22 June 2007 from ING Bank N.V. to Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. |
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10.11 |
Letter dated 16 May 2007 from Merrill Lynch International to Fortis N.V. and Fortis SA/NV |
|
21 |
List of Subsidiaries of RBS (incorporated herein by reference to Item 4 "Information on the CompanyOrganisational Structure" of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2006, SEC File No. 001-10306) |
|
23.1 |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors of the financial statements of RBS |
|
23.2* |
Consent of Dundas & Wilson LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement) |
|
23.3* |
Consent of Linklaters LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 8.1 to this Registration Statement) |
|
23.4* |
Consent of Linklaters LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 8.2 to this Registration Statement) |
|
23.5* |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (included in the opinion field as Exhibit 8.3 to this Registration Statement) |
|
24.1* |
Powers of Attorney of Directors of RBS signing by an attorney-in-fact |
|
99.1** |
ADS Letter of Transmittal (ABN AMRO ADSs) |
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99.2** |
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (ABN AMRO ADSs) |
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99.3** |
Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (ABN AMRO ADSs) |
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99.4** |
Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (ABN AMRO ADSs) |
|
99.5** |
Form of Acceptance for ABN AMRO ordinary shares |
Not applicable.
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Undertakings
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 3 August 2007.
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC | |||
By: |
/s/ MILLER ROY MCLEAN |
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Name: | Miller Roy McLean | ||
Title: | Group Secretary & General Counsel |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature |
Title |
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* Sir Thomas McKillop |
Chairman | |
Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Sir Frederick Goodwin |
Group Chief Executive and Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Guy Whittaker |
Group Finance Director and Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* John Cameron |
Chief Executive, Corporate Markets, and Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Lawrence Fish |
Chairman, RBS America, and Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Mark Fisher |
Chief Executive, Manufacturing, and Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Gordon Pell |
Chief Executive, Retail Markets, and Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Colin Buchan |
Director | |
Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* James Currie |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* William Friedrich |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Archibald Hunter |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Charles Koch |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Janis Kong |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Joseph MacHale |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Sir Steve Robson |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Robert Scott |
Director | |
Date: 3 August 2007 |
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* Peter Sutherland |
Director |
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Date: 3 August 2007 |
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Authorised Representative in the United States |
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* |
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Name: Donald J. Barry Date: 3 August 2007 |
By: | /s/ MILLER ROY MCLEAN | ||
Name: | Miller Roy McLean | ||
Date: 3 August 2007 |
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Attorney-in-fact |
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