RBS 2015 Annual Report Download - page 60

Certain sections in this document contain ‘forward-looking statements’ as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements that include the words
‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘project’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘should’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘could’, ‘probability’, ‘risk’, ‘Value-at-Risk (VaR)’, ‘target’, ‘goal’, ‘objective’, ‘may’, ‘endeavour’, ‘outlook’, ‘optimistic’, ‘prospects’ and similar
expressions or variations on these expressions.
In particular, this document includes forward-looking statements relating, but not limited to: The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc’s (RBS) restructuring (which includes, the separation and divestment of Williams &
Glyn, the proposed restructuring of RBS’s CIB business, the implementation of the UK ring-fencing regime, the implementation of a major development program to update RBS’s IT infrastructure and the
continuation of its balance sheet reduction programme), as well as capital and strategic plans, divestments, capitalisation, portfolios, net interest margin, capital and leverage ratios and requirements, liquidity, risk-
weighted assets (RWAs), RWA equivalents (RWAe), return on equity (ROE), profitability, cost:income ratios, loan:deposit ratios, AT1 and other capital raising plans, funding and credit risk profile; litigation,
government and regulatory investigations RBS’s future financial performance; the level and extent of future impairments and write-downs, including with respect to Goodwill; future pension contributions, and RBS’s
exposure to political risks, operational risk, conduct risk and credit rating risk and to various types of market risks, such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange rate risk and commodity and equity price risk. These
statements are based on current plans, estimates, targets and projections, and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For example, certain market risk and other disclosures are dependent on choices relying on key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to
various limitations. By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and, as a result, actual future gains and losses could differ materially from those that have been estimated.
Other factors that could adversely affect our results and the accuracy of forward-looking statements in this document include the risk factors and other uncertainties discussed in the 2015 Annual Report and
Accounts. These include the significant risks for RBS presented by the outcomes of the legal, regulatory and governmental actions and investigations that RBS is subject to (including active civil and criminal
investigations) and any resulting material adverse effect on RBS of unfavourable outcomes (including where resolved by settlement); the uncertainty relating to the referendum on the UK’s membership of the
European Union and the consequences arising from it; the separation and divestment of Williams & Glyn; RBS’s ability to successfully implement the various initiatives that are comprised in its restructuring plan,
particularly the proposed restructuring of its CIB business and the balance sheet reduction programme; as well as the significant restructuring required to be undertaken by RBS in order to implement the UK ring
fencing regime; the significant changes, complexity and costs relating to the implementation of its restructuring, the separation and divestment of Williams & Glyn and the UK ring-fencing regime; whether RBS will
emerge from implementing its restructuring and the UK ring-fencing regime as a viable, competitive, customer focused and profitable bank; RBS’s ability to achieve its capital and leverage requirements or targets
which will depend on RBS’s success in reducing the size of its business and future profitability; ineffective management of capital or changes to regulatory requirements relating to capital adequacy and liquidity or
failure to pass mandatory stress tests; the ability to access sufficient sources of capital, liquidity and funding when required; changes in the credit ratings of RBS or the UK government; declining revenues resulting
from lower customer retention and revenue generation in light of RBS’s strategy to refocus on the UK, the impact of global economic and financial market conditions (including low or negative interest rates) as well
as increasing competition. In addition, there are other risks and uncertainties. These include: operational risks that are inherent to RBS’s business and will increase as a result of RBS’s significant restructuring; the
potential negative impact on RBS’s business of actual or perceived global economic and financial market conditions and other global risks; the impact of unanticipated turbulence in interest rates, yield curves,
foreign currency exchange rates, credit spreads, bond prices, commodity prices, equity prices; basis, volatility and correlation risks; heightened regulatory and governmental scrutiny and the increasingly regulated
environment in which RBS operates; the risk of failure to realise the benefit of RBS’s substantial investments in its information technology and systems, the risk of failing to preventing a failure of RBS’s IT systems
or to protect itself and its customers against cyber threats, reputational risks; risks relating to the failure to embed and maintain a robust conduct and risk culture across the organisation or if its risk management
framework is ineffective; risks relating to increased pension liabilities and the impact of pension risk on RBS’s capital position; increased competitive pressures resulting from new incumbents and disruptive
technologies; RBS’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; HM Treasury exercising influence over the operations of RBS; limitations on, or additional requirements imposed on, RBS’s activities as a result
of HM Treasury’s investment in RBS; the extent of future write-downs and impairment charges caused by depressed asset valuations; deteriorations in borrower and counterparty credit quality; the value and
effectiveness of any credit protection purchased by RBS; risks relating to the reliance on valuation, capital and stress test models and any inaccuracies resulting therefrom or failure to accurately reflect changes in
the micro and macroeconomic environment in which RBS operates, risks relating to changes in applicable accounting policies or rules which may impact the preparation of RBS’s financial statements; the impact of
the recovery and resolution framework and other prudential rules to which RBS is subject; the recoverability of deferred tax assets; and the success of RBS in managing the risks involved in the foregoing.
The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as at the date hereof, and RBS does not assume or undertake any obligation or responsibility to update any forward-looking statement to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
The information, statements and opinions contained in this document do not constitute a public offer under any applicable legislation or an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any securities or financial
instruments or any advice or recommendation with respect to such securities or other financial instruments.
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Forward Looking Statements