BUILDING TOMORROW™

The State of Banking: Macro Credit Research Still Unstable Bloomberg FI14 Forum, June 2014 Alberto Gallo, CFA Head of European Macro Credit Research +44 (0) 20 7085 5736 [email protected] Lee Tyrrell-Hendry Macro Credit Analyst +44 (0) 20 7085 9462 [email protected]

Shikhar Sethi Macro Credit Analyst +44 (0) 20 7085 6479 [email protected] Tao Pan Macro Credit Analyst +44 (0) 20 7678 3122 [email protected]

Rajarshi Malaviya Gaurav Chhapia Chanchal Beriwal

Produced by The Royal of Scotland plc. In the UK, the Royal Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct rbs.com/mib Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Why do exist?

1. To optimally allocate resources in the economy 2. To borrow short-term andQE lend long-term 3. To promote new businesses and growth 4. To provide safe savings for depositors 5. To generate sustainable profits for shareholders

2 The original sin of European banking Frequency of the words “debt” and “sin” in English language books

QE

Tulip-mania

1929 crisis 2008 crisis

Source: Google Books, Ngram Viewer 3

Of that seventh circle, where the mournful tribe

Were seated. At the eyes forth gush’d their pangs, Against the vapors and the torrid soil Alternately their shifting hands they plied. Thus use the dogs in summer still to ply Their jaws and feet by turns, when bitten sore By gnats, or flies, or gadflies swarming round. Noting the visages of some, who lay Beneath the pelting of that dolorous fire, One of them all I knew not; but perceived, That pendent from his neck each bore a pouch With colours and with emblems various mark’d,

On which it seem’d as if their eye did feed.

The Divine Comedy, Inferno XVII

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Wikipedia 4 Banking: a for-profit business or a social and political activity?

ƒ Charging was sinful for the since Leo the Great ƒ The Lombards started loans on collateral, which was not forbidden. Lombard credit spread throughout ƒ Italians became famous bankers: the (1397-1494) was the largest banking institution in Europe ƒ To fight lending at high interest rates and , the created the , a charity institution to lend at modest rates. They also spread throughout Europe ƒ Germany’s landesbanken and sparkassen, ’s popolari and cooperative, Britain’s building societies and ’s cajas all have ties to local authorities and a high percentage of public ownership and/or non-negotiable control

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Wikipedia 5 Half a century of credit supercycle

$tn US GDP 70 US credit market debt European credit market debt

Financial crisis 60 Competition & credit control Big Bang (UK) Glass-Steagall Act repealed Quantitative introduced / Bretton Woods easing breaks down

50

40 ?

30 You are here

20

10

0 52 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76 79 82 85 88 91 94 97 00 03 06 09 12

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, ECB, FRED, Bloomberg

6 Bank capital is at a record low Book value of equity / total assets for US banks

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% 1834 1844 1854 1864 1874 1884 1894 1904 1914 1924 1934 1944 1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, FDIC, Historical Statistics of America 7 1. Restarting Europe’s credit engine

2. Fixing the banks (TLTRO, AQR, stress test)

QE

3. Boosting non-bank lending (Credit Easing with ABS) 4. The exit show: QE, asset bubbles, macro-pru for the US and UK

Source: Google. No animals were harmed during the making of this slide 8

1. Restarting Europe’s credit engine

QE

Source: Google. No animals were harmed during the making of this slide 9

The credit cycle: Europe stabilising, US re-leveraging, EM crunch

A cycle of four phases Bubble Crunch 1. Crunch GDP↓↓, π↓↓, D↑↑, M&A↓↓ 2. Stabilisation GDP↓, π↓, D ↓↓, M&A ↓ 3. Re-leveraging GDP↑, π ↑, D ~, M&A ↑ 4. Bubble GDP↑↑, π ↑↑, D ~, M&A ↑↑

GDP = real growth π = inflation

D = default rates M&A = M&A activity Re-leveraging Stabilisation

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg

Europe is stabilising, the US re-leveraging, EM are in an early crunch

10 Still the largest banks in the world

700% Bank assets % GDP 10-years ago

600%

500%

400%

300%

200%

100%

0% UK US Italy Spain GIIPS Japan Ireland France Austria Cyprus Finland Norway Canada Sweden Slovenia Australia Denmark Germany Euro Area Euro Switzerland

Source: ECB 11 Banking systems: Euro area vs US Euro area US 6,790 - Number of banks - 5,783

3.1x - Bank assets/GDP - 0.8x

37 - Number of branches - 35 per 100,000 adults

22% - Bonds/total debt - 52%

16% - Mkt share of top 5 banks - 33%

€1,041bn -NPLs-$200bn

10.9% -NPLs/GDP -1.2% Source: RBS Credit Strategy, , ECB, IMF, World Bank, FRED 12 The good news: Bank deleveraging is stabilising Deleveraging has stabilised: monthly total asset deleveraging in the eurozone, €tn

0. 0

-0.5

-1.0 -0 .6 +0.3-0 .3 -0.2 -1.5 +0 .1 +0. 2 -0 .6 0.0 -2.0 +0.1 -0.1 -2.5 -0.6 -0 .4 -3.0 -0.5 -3.5 -0 .3 -0.2 -0.1 -0.02 +0.4 +0.2 -4.0 -0.03 -0.1 -4.5 -0.2 -4.1 -0.9 -5.0 Jun-12 Dec-12 Jun-13 Dec-13 Total

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, ECB 13 The problem: Financial fragmentation is still high Unemployment rate and growth gap between core and periphery continues to widen

The funding gap The employment gap The solvency gap SME average loan rates, % Unemployment rate, % Non-performing loans, %

8% Periphery 20% 20% Periphery Core Periphery Core Core

16% 15%

6%

12% 10%

5% 8% 5%

3% 4% 0% 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg

Financial fragmentation impairs the transmission mechanism of monetary policy

14 The bank job: Fixing Europe’s banks

Source: Google. No banks were harmed during the making of this slide 15 Lessons from the crisis

20% Losses as % initial loans Losses as % initial assets

15%

10%

5%

0% ML BoI AIB B&B SNS UBS NBG Anglo Amag Wach Nrock Monte HBOS WaMu Bankia

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, ECB, Bloomberg 16 Lessons from the crisis

20%

15%

10% average loss for bad banks

5% 3% requirement

0% CS DB KBC UBS BNP ABN BBVA Intesa Lloyds CMZB Nordea Danske Soc GenSoc ING Bank ING Rabobank Santander Credit Ag Group Ag Credit

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, ECB, Bloomberg 17 without capital The inverse relationship between RWA % (Y) and bank size, €bn (X)

100%

90%

80%

70%

60% BBVA 50% UniCredit Intesa S ant ander HSBC 40% Rabo ING Lloyds BPCE BNP 30% LBBW ABN Danske CS 20% SEB Nordea Soc G en Barclays Credit Ag Deka Nwide SHB DZ Natixis UBS 10% Poholja DB

0% 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1, 200 1,400 1, 600 1,800 2, 000

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg, company filings 18 Too big to fail has not gone away Bank assets % GDP

200% 180% 160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60%

40% 20%

0% CS DB Citi GS MS UBS SEB KBC BES RZB JPM BAC BNP HSBC D anske SocGen Barclays Unicredit Credit Ag ING Bank ING Rabobank Santander

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg 19 Interconnectedness: Cross-holdings in Europe’s banking system

Italy

4.5% 8.2% 100% Qatar Iberdrola JP Morgan Toro Generali

1.3% 1.4% Abu Dhabi Libya Veolia 2.5% 12.5% 6.5% 2.6% Intesa 3.7% Monte 5.16% BlackRock 4.9% Gr oupama UniCredit 8.7% 0.15% 2.45% Germany 2.4% France 3.5% 2.5% Credit Agricole SocGen Mediolanum 17% 1.0% 1.4% 10.8% AXA 1.0% 0.06% BES 4.1% 0.03% 10.1% Portugal Telecom 6.0% Natixis AM POP 6.9% Commerzbank 0.16% BBVA 1.3% 1.7% Caixa Geral 4.5% 0.12% 4.76% 1.3% 3.9% 5.75% 1.7% 0.5% Credit BNP 2.8% Santander UBS CRH Suisse Caixa Telefonica Holdings 4.0% 6.4% 5.6% 3.2% 1.6% 0.41% 35% Caixabank 12.21% Norway Singapore Gas Natural Repsol Bankinter State Street

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg, company filings. Red = bank, Grey = sovereign, Blue = other 20 Costs are still high Number per 100,000 population, in Italy

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 Museums High schools Secondary Primary Pharmacies K indergart ens H otels B ank schools schools branches

Source: OECD, Bloomberg 21 A two-tier banking system Return on equity vs credit rating (bubble size indicates amount of total assets)

RoE PLC Investment banks Cooperatives/Savings banks 20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

-5%

-10%

-15% AA A BBBBB B CCC

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bloomberg

22 Stress test: Mid-sized banks vulnerable to rising NPLs and bond spreads

Bank CT1 ratio after estimated NPL shocks, and widening of sovereign bond yields over 3 years under EBA’s adverse scenario

26% CT1 loss on non-periphery sovereign widening (aft er earnings and )

24% CT1 loss on periphery sovereign widening (aft er earnings and dividends) CT1 loss on NPL rise, 50% coverage rat io (af ter earnings and dividends) 22% Earnings (80% of 3y PPI net of cash dividends) 20% CT1 capital af ter st ress, before earnings + = Capital after the exercise 18% at risk

16%

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

0% DB IKB BPI AIB SID UBI RBI RL B NL B BES BCP RZB OVB SHB KBC HSH SEB BNP BMN NBG WGZ BKIR Erste Jyske ABLV Alpha BPER BCEE BPCE Ll oyds HSBC Int esa Aareal BBVA Carige CXGD LBWF RNW* Bawag NKBM CM ZB LBBW Bank ia Helaba Iccrea* CEISS CreVal Belfius Veneto Uni caja No rdea Pohjola Ibe rcaja Piraeus Popu lar Dansk e CredEm Nykred it SocGen NordLB* Arge nta* Sydban k Barclays Sabadell Popolare ApoBan k DZ Bank UniCredit DNB Nor DNB Bankinter BayernLB L iberb ank Euroba nk ING Bank ING BP Milano Catalunya DekaBank Ra boba nk Santand er BoValletta Crédi Mut t Swedbank Kutxabank SNS Bank SNS Caix aban k BP Sondrio BPI France Lan Berlin d Perm. TSB Perm. BP Vicenza C'mar/ BCC Med ioba nca NCG Banco ABN AMRO BkCyprus of Cred Ag Grp Ag Cred Munich Hypo Munich Hell enic Ban k Mo nte Pa schi Stronger Weaker Source: RBS Credit Strategy, company filings, Bloomberg, EBA. Sovereign holdings data is from the EBA, and is as of June 2013. Notes: We use FY 2013 results for the banks or the most recent filings available (marked with a *). We do not take into account measures to improve capital ratios post 31 December 2013. To translate the EBA’s adverse scenario into an NPL shock, we regress the change in NPLs over change in real GDP, unemployment and house prices during the crisis and adapt it to the EBA assumptions. If sovereign holdings data from the EBA is unavailable we use the national average. If EBA data is not available for any bank from a country, we use the periphery or core average, depending on the bank’s location. We stress the AfS and HfT portfolios of banks only, proxied as 70% of gross direct long positions. 3y PPI is 80% of average pre-provision income in 2011-13 less 80% of average cash dividends paid over 2011-13, as % of RWAs; The capital ratios are measured against each bank’s own reporting standards, typically 2, 2.5 or the German Solvency standard for the Landesbanks (note the EBA tests will use transitional CET1 ratio definition under CRR/CRD). IKB and Belfius have negative earnings so we reduce remaining CT1 capital to adjust for this. The EBA will use 8% and 5.5% capital threshold for its baseline and adverse scenario of the stress tests. The above sample has banks which are included in the EBA’s sample list: the EBA list has roughly 25 more banks than our current sample. The weak German banks in our test have reasonable initial capital 23 levels, but lose out due to high holdings of bunds.

Stress test: The bottom 30 in our adverse scenario simulation

24% + CT1 loss on non-periphery sovereign widening (after e arnings and dividends) 22% = capital CT1 loss on periphery sovereign widening (after earnings and dividends) after the 20% CT1 loss on NPL rise, 50% coverage ratio (after earnings and dividends) at risk exercises 18% Earnings (80% of 3y PPI net of cash dividends) 16% CT1 capital after stress, before earnings 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% IKB RLB BES NBG BMN WGZ BPER LBWF RNW* CXGD CEISS Belfius Carige Iccrea* CreV al Helaba Veneto CredEm Nykredit NordLB* Popolare UniCredit BP Milano BPI France BPI BP Sondrio BP Vicenza BP C'mar/ BCC C'mar/ Munich Hypo Munich Hellenic Bank Hellenic Monte Paschi Monte Stronger Weaker

24 The economics of a TLTRO loan

35 TLTRO cost SME loan RWA is Loan yield = 3% = 0.25% 75% (8% capital 30 charge) 2% default rate, 25 40% recovery

20 Normal funding Savings cost = 1% = 0.75% 15 0.5% c os t

10

Based on a €1,000 loan loan a €1,000 on Based 0.6% RoA

5

0 Gross interest Normal TLTRO Cost of capital Cost of Fixed costs Net interest income funding costs savings on loans provisions income

Source: ECB, RBS Credit Strategy estimates

25 TLTROnomics: Boosting profitability but not if default rise Return on equity of a TLTRO-funded loan for a given default rate, %

45% Core bank (lending at 3%) 40% Periphery bank (lending at 5%) 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10%

Return on Equity 5% 0% -5% Economic break-even default rates 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% Annual default rate

Source: RBS Credit Strategy 26 €4.1tn Deleveraging by Eurozone banks so far €1tn Further deleveraging we think is needed 70% Of that will come from small banks

30% Will come from large banks €374bn Decline in non-fin corporate loans so far

€29bn Capital needed by large European banks

We assume that 80% of capital requirements will be met by raising fresh capital or through earnings for large banks, and 20% from shrinking assets. For small banks, we assume 60% of capital requirements will be met by raising fresh capital or through earnings, and 40% from shrinking assets. 27 A formula for financial stability

Crisis bank size of =[ -(capital + bail-in + backstops)] x cost losses system

banks lost €55bn 3% 8% of 3x GDP 2%-13% of leverage ratio total liabilities SRM fund total assets in previous crises

= 5.8% capital / assets

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, BBG, Company filings 28 Cocos: are you a lover or a hater?

QE 1. I am buying them for yield 2. I think conversion risk is unlikely 3. I am buying them because of lack of alternatives 4. I think they are fundamentally cheap 5. I will never buy them!

Source: Google images, Marmite 29 Contingent capital: A solution or the beginning of a new problem? Yield is the top reason why people buy cocos, despite heavy losses expected upon trigger event

Investors are searching for yield …but do expect a steep drop when a conversion occurs Why are you buying cocos? How do you think the market will react to a conversion?

80% % answers 70 Avg expected drop: -15% 70% 60 60% 50 50% 40 40% But high 30 tail risk 30% 20 20%

10% 10

0% 0 Y ield Co nversio n is Lack of Cheap vs risks 0-2-4-6-8-10-12-14-16-18-20 unlikely alt ern at iv es Coco market price drop following a conversion

Source: RBS Credit Strategy Source: RBS Credit Strategy

Investors are calling for greater standardisation from regulators

30 3. A new financial world: Boosting non-bank lending

Source: The Economist 31 What will the ECB do? CE, not QE is the game changer for credit

Refi rate cut

Forward guidance Liquidity easing LTROs Negative deposit rates FX reduction QE Credit easing (buying ABS) Potential game-changers Credit easing (buying bank loans)

32 Closing the gap: New funding sources can offset loan deleveraging

0

-5 0

-100 +50 -150 -154 -200 +80

-250 +40

€bn -300 +50

-350

-400 -374 Decline in NFC Annual growth in New CLOs and Fres h EIB Non-bank Net financing loans since HY bond market securitisations lending lenders gap May 2012

Source: ECB, RBS Credit Strategy estimates

33 4. The exit show: QE, asset bubbles and collateral effects for US and UK banks

Source: Google images 34 Which asset class is already in a bubble?

QE 1. Long-term Treasuries and Gilts 2. US high yield and leveraged loans 3. UK property 4. Periphery bonds 5. Technology stocks 6. Coco bonds 7. Bubbles, bubbles everywhere! Source: Google images, Marmite 35 “Now, back to Macro. What is your exit strategy? The players won't be in on the scam, so they'll all think it's their lucky night, but you'll never get them out of there with their winnings, they'll gamble it all back. That's Vegas and that's your problem.” Roman Nagel, Ocean’s Thirteen

Source: Google images 36 US labour markets back to (a different) normal

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, BLS Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Atlanta Fed 37 The Pruman Show: Macro-pru and microwave risk in the UK Microwave risk can turn bondholders into popcorn

BoE: loosest policy in 320 years calling – a bubble UK Bank of Bank Rate, % Change in house prices since 2007

18% UK Bank Rate 16%

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

0% 1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, Bank of England Source: RBS Credit Strategy, HM Land Registry

38 Getting out of the leverage trap will hurt UK consumers

Disposable income (£) A small 25b p rate hike 1 year from now wo uld only 24,000 reduce disposable income by £320 (-1.5%)

22,000 W e are here If Bank Rate goes to 4% disposable income would fall b y £5,000 (-21%) 20,000

18,000 80% LTV

16,000 But for borrowers with a 95% mortgage the decline is 14,000 £5,800 (-28%) 95% LTV

12,000 0% 1% 2% Bank Rate 3% 4% 5%

Source: RBS Credit Strategy, ONS, Bank of England. Assuming house price to income of 4.6x for the 80% LTV mortgage and of 5.2x for the 95% LTV. 39 “The positive news is the British economy is continuing to grow and is creating jobs. And it is positive news that at a time of international instability we are a safe haven in the storm.” - George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, July 2011

“A healthy housing market is good for our economy and will help to support the recovery [...] But let's not be naive. Anyone with more than a passing interest in British economic history is aware that the UK housing market has a sort of microwave type quality to it, with a tendency to turn from lukewarm to scalding hot in a matter of a few economic seconds.” - Spencer Dale, MPC Member, April 2014

40 Conclusions

QE

1. Europe is on a trajectory of structural improvement to bank/credit markets 2. Banks still need more capital and will take time to lend again, despite TLTRO 3. But European policymakers are on the right path: credit easing (CE) with ABS is a real game-changer 4. The US and UK exit will be more problematic, with high popcorn risk

Source: Google images. No animals or planets (only banks) were harmed for the making of this slide 41 © Copyright 2014 The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and affiliated companies ("RBS"). All rights reserved. This Material was prepared by the legal entity named on the cover or inside cover page. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security or other financial instrument. While based on information believed to be reliable, no guarantee is given that it is accurate or complete. While we endeavour to update on a reasonable basis the information and opinions contained herein, there may be regulatory, compliance or other reasons that prevent us from doing so. The opinions, forecasts, assumptions, estimates, derived valuations and target price(s) contained in this Material are as of the date indicated and are subject to change at any time without prior notice. The investments referred to may not be suitable for the specific

investment objectives, financial situation or individual needs of recipients and should not be relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgement. The stated price of any securities mentioned herein is as of the date indicated and is not a representation that any transaction can be effected at this price. Neither RBS nor other persons shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive or exemplary damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this Material. This Material is for the use of intended recipients only and the contents may not be reproduced, redistributed, or copied in whole or in part for any purpose without RBS' prior express consent. In any jurisdiction in which distribution to private/retail customers would require registration or licensing of the distributor which the distributor does not currently have, this Material is intended solely for distribution to professional and institutional investors. RBS usually makes a market in fixed income and equity securities of issuers discussed in this report and usually deal as a principal in these securities.

THIS MATERIAL IS CLASSIFIED AS INVESTMENT RESEARCH AS DEFINED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY. Analyst Certification: The research analyst or analysts responsible for the content of this research report certify that: (1) the views expressed and attributed to the research analyst or analysts in the research report accurately reflect their personal opinion(s) about the subject securities and issuers and/or other subject matter as appropriate; and, (2) no part of his or her compensation was, is or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views contained in this research report. On a general basis, the efficacy of recommendations is a factor in the performance appraisals of analysts. RBS policy prohibits its analysts, professionals reporting to analysts and members of their households from owning securities and from serving as an officer, director, advisory board member or employee of any company in the analyst's area of coverage. Australia: This Material is issued in Australia by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (ABN 30 101 464 528), 88 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia which is authorised and regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFS License No. 241114) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Canada: The securities mentioned in this Material are available only in accordance with applicable securities laws and many not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions. Persons in Canada requiring further information should contact their own advisors. EEA: This Material constitutes "investment research" for the purposes of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and as such contains an objective or independent explanation of the matters contained in the Material. Any recommendations contained in this Material must not be relied upon as investment advice based on the recipient's personal circumstances. In the event that further clarification is required on the words or phrases used in this Material, the recipient is strongly recommended to seek independent legal or financial advice. Denmark: The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. is authorised and regulated in the Netherlands by De Netherlandsche Bank. In addition, The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. Danish branch is subject to local supervision by Finanstilsynet, The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. Hong Kong: To the extent this Material constitutes Type 4 regulated activity (advising on securities) and not within ancillary activities as defined in Part 1, Schedule 5 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong), this Material must not be distributed or transmitted into or within Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. India: Shares traded on stock exchanges within the Republic of India may only be purchased by different categories of resident Indian investors, Foreign Institutional Investors registered with The Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI") or individuals of Indian national origin resident outside India called Non Resident Indians ("NRIs"). Any recipient of this Material wanting additional information or to effect any transaction in Indian securities or financial instrument mentioned herein must do so by contacting a representative of RBS Equities (India) Limited. RBS Equities (India) Limited is a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V.. Italy: Persons receiving this Material in Italy requiring further information should contact The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. Branch. Japan: This report is being distributed in Japan by RBS Securities Japan Limited to institutional investors only. Malaysia: RBS research, except for economics and FX research, is not for distribution or transmission into Malaysia. Netherlands: the Authority for the Financial Markets ("AFM") is the competent supervisor. Russia: This Material is distributed in the Russian Federation by RBS and "The Royal Bank of Scotland" ZAO (general banking license No. 2594 issued by the of the Russian Federation, registered address: building 1, 17 Bolshaya Nikitskaya str., Moscow 125009, the Russian Federation), an affiliate of RBS, for information purposes only and is not an offer to buy or subscribe or otherwise to deal in securities or other financial instruments, or to enter into any legal relations, nor as investment advice or a recommendation with respect to such securities or other financial instruments. This Material does not have regard to the specific investment purposes, financial situation and the particular business needs of any particular recipient. The investments and services contained herein may not be available to persons other than 'qualified investors" as this term is defined in the Federal Law "On the Securities Market". Singapore: This Material is distributed in Singapore by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Singapore branch ("RBS plc Singapore"), Level 26, One Raffles Quay, South Tower, Singapore 048583, which is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Singapore recipients should contact RBS plc Singapore at +65 6518 8888 for additional information. This Material and the equity securities, investments or other financial instruments referred to herein are not in any way intended for, and will not be available to, investors in Singapore unless they are accredited investors, expert investors and institutional investors (as defined in Section 4A(1) of the Securities and Futures Act (Cap 289) of Singapore (“SFA”). Further, without prejudice to any of the foregoing disclaimers, where this material is distributed to accredited investors or expert investors, RBS plc Singapore is exempted by Regulation 35 of the Financial Advisers Regulations (“FAR”) from the requirements in Section 36 of the Financial Advisers Act (Cap 110) of Singapore (“FAA”) mandating disclosure of any interest in securities referred to in this material, or in their acquisition or disposal. Recipients who are not accredited investors, expert investors or institutional investors should seek the advice of their independent financial advisors prior to making any investment decision based on this document or for any necessary explanation of its contents. South Korea: This Material is being distributed in South Korea by, and is attributable to, RBS Asia Limited (Seoul) Branch which is regulated by the Financial Supervisory Service of South Korea. Thailand: Pursuant to an agreement with Asia Plus Securities Public Company Limited (APS), reports on Thai securities published out of Thailand are prepared by APS but distributed outside Thailand by RBS Bank NV and affiliated companies. Responsibility for the views and accuracy expressed in such docume nts belongs to APS. Turkey: The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. is regulated by Banking Regulation and Supervision Authority (BRSA). UAE and Qatar: This Material is produced by The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V and is being distributed to professional and institutional investors only in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in accordance with the regulatory requirements governing the distribution of investment research in these jurisdictions. Dubai International Financial Centre: This Material has been prepared by The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and is directed at "Professional Clients" as defined by the Dubai Authority (DFSA). No other person should act upon it. The financial products and services to which the Material relates will only be made available to customers who satisfy the requirements of a "Professional Client". This Material has not been reviewed or approved by the DFSA. Qatar Financial Centre: This Material has been prepared by The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and is directed solely at persons who are not "Retail Customer" as defined by the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority. The financial products and services to which the Material relates will only be made available to customers who satisfy the requirements of a "Business Customer" or "Market Counterparty". United Kingdom: The Royal Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. United States of America: This Material is intended for distribution only to "major institutional investors" as defined in Rule 15a-6 under the U.S. Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and may not be furnished to any other person in the United States. Each U.S. major institutional investor that receives these Materials by its acceptance hereof represents and agrees that it shall not distribute or provide these Materials to any other person. Any U.S. recipient of these Materials that wishes further information regarding, or to effect any transaction in, any of the securities discussed in this Material, should contact and place orders solely through a registered representative of RBS Securities Inc., 600 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, CT, USA. Telephone: +1 203 897 2700. RBS Securities Inc. is an affiliated broker-dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, and a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Material means all research information contained in any form including but not limited to hard copy, electronic form, presentations, e-mail, SMS or WAP. Disclosures regarding companies covered by us can be found on our research website. Please use https://strategy.rbsm.com/disclosures/default.aspx for Research. Our policy on managing research conflicts of interest can be found here https://strategy.rbsm.com/Strategy/ConflictsPolicy.aspx. Should you require additional information please contact the relevant research team or the author(s) of this Material.

42