<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001654954-22-005515.txt : 20220428
<SEC-HEADER>0001654954-22-005515.hdr.sgml : 20220428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220428091257
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001654954-22-005515
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20220428
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220428

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NatWest Group plc
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000844150
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC [6029]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			X0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		6-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10306
		FILM NUMBER:		22862559

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GOGARBURN
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1000
		CITY:			EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			EH12 1HQ
		BUSINESS PHONE:		441315568555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GOGARBURN
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1000
		CITY:			EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			EH12 1HQ

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950712
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>6-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a7403j.htm
<DESCRIPTION>AGM STATEMENT
<TEXT>
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FORM 6-K</font></div>
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Washington D.C. 20549</font></div>
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Report of Foreign Private Issuer</font></div>
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Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">For
April 28, 2022</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Commission
File Number: 001-10306</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">NatWest
Group plc</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">RBS,
Gogarburn, PO Box 1000</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Edinburgh
EH12 1HQ</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(Address
of principal executive offices)</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;Form
20-F <font style="text-decoration: underline">X</font> Form 40-F
___</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule
101(b)(1):_________</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule
101(b)(7):_________</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information
to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Yes ___
No <font style="text-decoration: underline">X</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">If
"Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
________</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="font-size: 13px">
The following information was issued as&#xA0;Company announcements
in London, England and is furnished pursuant to General Instruction
B to the General Instructions to Form
6-K:</font>&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
NatWest Group plc</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Annual General Meeting Statements</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
28 April 2022</font></div>
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<font style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
NatWest Group plc will hold its Annual General Meeting at 2.00 p.m.
today. The meeting will deal with the proposed resolutions as set
out in the Notice of Meeting previously issued to
shareholders.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The following is an extract from the remarks to be made by Howard
Davies, Chairman, and Alison Rose, Chief Executive Officer, at the
meeting.&#xA0;The remarks expand on those which were made at the
Virtual Shareholder Event held on 21 April 2022.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="text-decoration: underline; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Howard Davies</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
As well as being back in a physical setting, we have also changed
the AGM process a little this year to retain a virtual element and
help maximise shareholder involvement and engagement.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Alison Rose has been CEO for two and a half years, but it is her
first 'live' AGM appearance. In a moment she will update you on the
progress we have made across the Group during 2021. Alison will
also report on the help the bank is providing in response to the
invasion of Ukraine.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Before that, I would like to give you an overview of your Board's
governance in what has been another eventful year.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
For much of 2021, there was a sense of cautious optimism that we
might finally have put the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic behind
us. As restrictions in the UK began to ease, economic activity
picked up strongly.&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
But, towards the end of the year our resilience was put to the test
once more as the spread of the Omicron variant reminded us of the
unpredictable nature of the pandemic.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Despite that, the UK banking industry as a whole held up well,
remaining open for business and well capitalised.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The NatWest Group delivered a strong financial performance in 2021,
returning to profitability and writing-back some of our
pandemic-related impairment provisions as the economic outlook
improved.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The bank's share price also recovered throughout the year,
increasing by around 35%.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Against the backdrop of recent geopolitical events, including the
invasion of Ukraine, the share price has lost some of those gains,
though on a 12 month view we have outperformed the UK banks
average.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The Group also retains one of the strongest capital ratios among
major European banks and we once again comfortably passed the Bank
of England's stress test in December 2021, further demonstrating
the resilience of our balance sheet.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
That, combined with our continued capital generation, means our
bank is well placed to support its customers, invest for growth and
drive sustainable returns to shareholders.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA3;3.8 billion of shareholder distributions were announced for
the 2021 financial year, through buybacks - both directed and
on-market - and dividends.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We also announced that we would distribute at least &#xA3;1 billion
in dividends annually to 2023.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
UK Government Investments, which manages the government's
shareholding, announced three separate transactions during the
course of 2021: the directed buyback by the Group; an on-market
placement of shares; and a trading plan under which it has
instructed its brokers to sell NatWest Group shares in the market
through to [July] this year.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The government stake reduced from 62% at the start of 2021, to less
than 53% by the end of 2021, and it is now around 48%.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
While the move below 50% has little practical impact on our
governance or operations, it was an important symbolic moment - a
marker of how far we have come, the changes we have made since 2008
and lessons we have learned on the way.&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Today we are seeking to renew our shareholder authority so that we
may take part in further directed buybacks should HM Treasury ask
us to do so.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The bank's financial performance in 2021 included a fine following
breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. NatWest Group
takes its responsibility to prevent and detect financial crime
extremely seriously.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We deeply regret that we failed adequately to monitor one of our
customers between 2012 and 2016 to prevent money laundering. And
while the case has now come to an end, we continue to invest
significant resources in the ongoing fight against financial crime
and fraud.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
It has been a period of stability in terms of Board composition,
with no changes to our membership since the 2021 AGM.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
As you would expect, we keep the composition, skills and experience
of the Board under review, and over the next year or so we will
need to recruit new members to cope with planned
retirements.</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
In the main, the Board continued to meet virtually through 2021.
Our online meeting technology has served us well during the
pandemic and we will continue to use it.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
For 2022, we have therefore adopted a hybrid calendar with some
meetings being held virtually and some meetings in
person.</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The extensive support that the bank has provided to its customers,
colleagues and communities throughout the pandemic was a key focus
for the Board in 2021.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We also spent a lot of time scrutinising the implementation of the
bank's strategy and transformation agenda as well as enhancing our
oversight of the bank's culture.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
In keeping with its intention to maintain a progressive,
shareholder focus, your Board has taken the decision to give you
the opportunity to have your say on Climate by voting on a climate
resolution at this year's AGM.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We are also proposing a new Directors' Remuneration Policy for
approval. It has been developed by Robert Gillespie, as the
Chairman of the Group Performance &amp; Remuneration
Committee.&#xA0; It will be his last AGM, so I want to thank him
for all he has done for the Group over 9 years, steering the
Committee through choppy waters, as befits the skilled oarsman he
is.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Looking at the year ahead, as well as the gradual recovery from the
pandemic, it's clear that there are some notable challenges facing
our customers and the UK economy.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Inflation, which was already on a steep trajectory at the end of
2021, looks set to continue to rise as the reverberations from the
invasion of Ukraine have a direct impact on
prices&#xA0;-&#xA0;especially of energy and
commodities.&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We are very conscious of the effects this will have on the
increased cost of living for many of our customers, and we are
committed to helping them where we can.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Finally, I would like to thank Alison and her strong and capable
leadership team for everything they have delivered in the past
year. It was not easy to run the bank well throughout the pandemic.
And I take this opportunity of thanking, in particular, our
colleagues in branches who kept that essential service working even
at the most difficult time. Their actions and the hard work of all
our colleagues have ensured that NatWest Group is well placed to
succeed and grow as the needs and expectations of our customers
evolve.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="text-decoration: underline; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Alison Rose</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Since we last spoke just over two months ago, the world has changed
considerably. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the
invasion of Ukraine and we are doing all we can to support
them.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Last week, I visited our operations in Poland and heard first-hand
how our colleagues are helping Ukrainian refugees with food,
medicine and accommodation as well as other essential
services.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
And the bank has been keen to support the Ukrainian people in a
number of other ways. More than 9 million pounds has so far been
donated by our colleagues and customers to the Disasters Emergency
Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, including 2.5 million of
match-funding by the bank. I'd like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who has donated for their incredible
generosity.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We have also taken measures to assist Ukrainian refugees, including
helping them to open bank accounts and setting aside part of our
Edinburgh headquarters as a welcome hub for those seeking
refuge.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
And we are donating &#xA3;100,000 to the Perspektywy Foundation
which will provide support to 500 Ukrainian students as they begin
their studies in Polish universities and polytechnics.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
In addition to the humanitarian cost, the invasion of Ukraine has
led to greater geo-political and macro-economic uncertainty, adding
to the inflationary pressures impacting households in the
UK.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We are not seeing any significant signs of financial distress in
our book at this stage. We are, however, very aware of the
challenges and concerns the cost-of-living crisis is causing for
many of our customers up and down the country.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Therefore, in line with our approach throughout the pandemic, we
are focussed on providing the practical help and support that
people, families and businesses need to thrive.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
This includes delivering more financial health checks to help
customers understand their personal finances better and providing a
dedicated SME ecosystem with access to specialist advice throughout
the UK. We are also working alongside charities such as Citizens
Advice and GamCare to support those who are most in need as well as
helping young people develop greater financial confidence through
initiatives such as our Dream Bigger programme and our
collaboration with the footballer and campaigner Marcus
Rashford.&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
It is this focus on building deeper relationships with our
customers, combined with two years of execution against our
strategy, that means NatWest Group is well placed to deliver
sustainable growth and sustainable returns in the years to
come.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
As I said in February, we are building from a position of strength,
having made considerable progress against our strategic targets
during the past two years in a difficult macro-economic
environment:</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
For 2021, we delivered an operating profit of 4.3 billion pounds
for the whole Group, up from a loss of 351 million in
2020.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We removed a further 256 million pounds of costs from the business
and retain a capital ratio well above our target
range.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
And at the same time, our 3 billion pound investment programme,
focused primarily on technology, digitisation and data, is enabling
our customers to interact with us in different ways with almost 90%
of retail customer needs now being met digitally.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
And now, with the economy starting to recover, the business is
firmly positioned for growth.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Importantly, one of the ways we will drive growth is by reflecting
the values and aspirations of our customers - especially in helping
our customers tackle climate change and the transition to net
zero.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Of course, addressing the climate crisis is not something NatWest
Group or any individual organisation can do on its
own.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
As a bank, the biggest impact we can have on the transition to net
zero comes from supporting our 19 million customers to understand
and reduce their climate impact.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
In practical terms, we have scaled our efforts to help meet the
demand for sustainable financing, building on our leadership
position as the largest lender to renewables.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
In 2020, we set out to provide 20 billion pounds of climate and
sustainable funding and financing over two years.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Having met this initial target in under 18 months, we have
committed to an ambitious new goal of providing an additional 100
billion pounds of climate and sustainable funding and financing by
the end of 2025.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We are also taking a leading role in decarbonising UK homes,
promoting electric transport and supporting the transition to clean
energy.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
There is a clear commercial imperative in helping our customers to
thrive as we transition to net zero.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Our 'Springboard to Sustainable Recovery' report, which we
published in 2021, highlights this.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
The report shows that if small and medium-sized enterprises get the
right support, they can deliver a significant amount of the UK's
abatement targets.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
An action which could deliver more than &#xA3;160 billion in
climate opportunities for our customers.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We believe being transparent about our climate progress is also
vital.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
And as Howard has mentioned, through the bank's first climate
resolution, we are giving our shareholders a chance to have their
Say on Climate.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
This will not only promote transparency about our climate ambitions
and strategic direction, but also provide feedback to help us shape
our future climate transition planning.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We will also drive growth through our continued customer
focus.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We know there is an opportunity in the UK for a bank that genuinely
understands its customers - what they want now, what they will need
next, and what they will need for the future.</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
And this - I believe - is the opportunity we uniquely
have.</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Whether that be through our continued investment in data and
digital, giving us the ability to know our customers and their
needs better; or through starting customer relationships earlier in
the lifecycle, to support the next generation.</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
For example, last year we launched our 'CareerSense' programme -
providing more than 8,000 young people with free access to tools
that will develop critical skills and support their employability
prospects.</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
And recently, we announced our collaboration with Marcus Rashford.
Together we are creating a programme that builds young people's
financial confidence and helps them develop a positive relationship
with money.</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Finally, we continue to focus on supporting businesses across the
country.&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
We are already the leading bank for small and medium businesses in
the UK with a leading net promoter score.</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Last year we supported SME's with 2.2 billion pounds of gross
lending and we processed a quarter of all UK payments.</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
As the economy recovers, we continue to invest and support these
businesses which drive around half of UK turnover and employ 60% of
the private sector workforce.</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
One example of our investment is our payments
proposition.</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Our merchant acquiring platform Tyl allows businesses to take
payments from customers via a card, phone or online.</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
While another of our services, called Payit, uses open banking
technology so businesses can manage online payments direct to their
customers' bank accounts in near real time without needing to know
or store their card or account details.&#xA0;</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
These are just a couple of examples of the innovation we are
pursuing to support our business customers.</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
So, looking forward to this year and beyond, we can take confidence
from the strong progress of the last two years as we returned to
profitability, reduced government ownership to below 50% and
continued our 3 billion pound investment programme to make better
use of data and digital to deliver a better and simpler banking
experience for our customers.</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Against a challenging backdrop, it is as important as ever that the
Group remains focused on our purpose: championing potential,
helping people, families and businesses to thrive.</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
In doing so, we are able to create deeper and more meaningful
relationships with our customers, giving them the support they need
at every stage of their lives - whether that is buying a house,
saving for retirement, or setting up and growing their own
business, and importantly, helping them navigate the times
ahead.&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Living up to our purpose is therefore not only the right thing to
do, it also has a strong commercial imperative, helping us to
create value, drive growth and deliver sustainable returns for our
shareholders.</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Forward-looking statements</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="color: #000000">
This document contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, such as statements that include, without limitation,
the words 'expect', 'estimate', 'project', 'anticipate', 'commit',
'believe', 'should', 'intend', 'will', 'plan', 'could',
'probability', 'risk', 'Value-at-Risk (VaR)', 'target', 'goal',
'objective', 'may', 'endeavour', 'outlook', 'optimistic',
'prospects' and similar expressions or variations on these
expressions. These statements concern or may affect future matters,
such as NatWest Group's future economic results, business plans and
strategies.</font><font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman">&#xA0;</font><font style="color: #000000">&#xA0;In
particular, this document may include forward-looking statements
relating to NatWest Group plc in respect of, but not limited to:
the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, its regulatory capital
position and related requirements, its financial position,
profitability and financial performance (including financial,
capital, cost savings and operational targets), the implementation
of its Purpose-led strategy, its ESG and climate related targets,
its access to adequate sources of liquidity and funding, increasing
competition from new incumbents and disruptive technologies, its
exposure to third party risks, its ongoing compliance with the UK
ring-fencing regime and ensuring operational continuity in
resolution, its impairment losses and credit exposures under
certain specified scenarios, substantial regulation and oversight,
ongoing legal, regulatory and governmental actions and
investigations, the transition of LIBOR and IBOR rates to
alternative risk free rates and NatWest Group's exposure to
economic and political risks (including with respect to terms
surrounding Brexit and climate change), operational risk, conduct
risk, cyber, data and IT risk, financial crime risk, key person
risk and credit rating risk.</font><font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman">&#xA0;</font><font style="color: #000000">&#xA0;Forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
might cause actual results and performance to differ materially
from any expected future results or performance expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause
or contribute to differences in current expectations include, but
are not limited to, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, future
growth initiatives (including acquisitions, joint ventures and
strategic partnerships), the outcome of legal, regulatory and
governmental actions and investigations, the level and extent of
future impairments and write-downs (including with respect to
goodwill), legislative, political, fiscal and regulatory
developments, accounting standards, competitive conditions,
technological developments, interest and exchange rate
fluctuations, general economic and political conditions and the
impact of climate-related risks and the transitioning to a net zero
economy. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may
impact any forward-looking statement or NatWest Group plc's actual
results are discussed in NatWest Group plc's UK 2021 Annual Report
and Accounts (ARA)&#xA0;and NatWest Group plc's filings with the US
Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to,
NatWest Group plc's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and
Reports on Form 6-K. The forward-looking statements contained in
this document speak only as of the date of this document and
NatWest Group plc does not assume or undertake any obligation or
responsibility to update any of the forward-looking statements
contained in this document, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally
required.</font></font></div>
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&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000">
Legal Entity Identifier</font><font style="color: #000000">:
2138005O9XJIJN4JPN90</font></font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Date:&#xA0;28
April 2022</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">NATWEST
GROUP plc (Registrant)</font></div>
</td>
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<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 49%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">By: /s/
Jan Cargill</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 49%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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</td>
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<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 49%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 51%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Name:
Jan Cargill</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 49%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 51%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Title:
Chief Governance Officer and Company Secretary</font></div>
</td>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
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