NatWest Markets Plc Q1 Results 2025

NatWest Markets Group

Q1 2025

Interim Management Statement

ci.natwest.com

NatWest Markets Group (NWM Group)

Results for Q1 2025

The first quarter of the year saw a dynamic operating environment, with seasonally strong client activity against a backdrop of heightened uncertainty in both UK and international markets. We captured opportunities presented by this environment, leveraged our deep customer relationships, and capitalised on our key specialist strengths through a connected Commercial & Institutional segment to support our customers. As a result, we produced a strong set of results for NWM Group, all underpinned by a disciplined approach to balance sheet management.

Financial review

NWM Group maintained its robust capital and liquidity position in Q1 2025 and reported a profit of £59 million, compared with a loss of £40 million in Q4 2024 and a profit of £82 million in Q1 2024. Total income increased to £394 million in Q1 2025 compared with the previous quarter, mainly reflecting stronger performances across the primary business lines. Operating expenses decreased in the quarter to £323 million compared with Q4 2024 due to lower litigation and conduct costs, and other operating expenses, largely driven by the non-repeat of one-off items in the prior period offset by higher staff costs.

Financial performance

Capital and leverage

Liquidity and funding

ESG highlights

Climate and sustainable funding and financing have continued to perform well and, as at the end of Q1 2025, we had delivered £52.7 billion towards the NatWest Group climate and sustainable funding and financing target(1) of £100 billion between 1 July 2021 and the end of 2025.

(1) NatWest Group uses its climate and sustainable funding and financing inclusion criteria (CSFFI criteria) to determine the assets, activities and companies that are eligible to be included within its climate and sustainable funding and financing target. This includes provision of committed (on and off-balance sheet) funding and financing, including provision of services for underwriting issuances and private placements.

Outlook(1)

We retain the Outlook guidance provided in the NatWest Markets Plc 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.

(1) The guidance, targets, expectations and trends discussed in this section represent management's current expectations and are subject to change, including as a result of the factors described in the 'Risk Factors' section in the NatWest Markets Plc 2024 Annual Report and Accounts. These statements constitute forward-looking statements. Refer to 'Forward-looking statements' in this announcement.

Financial review

The table below presents an analysis of key lines of NWM Group's income statement. Commentary refers to the table below as well as the consolidated income statement shown on page 6.

(1) Product performance includes gross income earned on a NatWest Group-wide basis, including amounts contributed to other NatWest Group subsidiaries. Income including shared revenue before OCA includes revenue share from other NatWest Group subsidiaries but before revenue share is paid to or contributed to those subsidiaries.

(2) Capital Management Unit was set up in Q3 2020 to manage capital usage and optimisation across all parts of NatWest Markets, with the income materially relating to legacy positions. In Q4 2024, Other mainly related to FX reserves recycling.

(3) Transfer pricing arrangements with fellow NatWest Group subsidiaries includes shared revenue paid to or contributed to those subsidiaries and a profit share arrangement with fellow NatWest Group subsidiaries. The profit share arrangement rewards NWM Group on an arm's length basis for its contribution to the performance of the NatWest Group Commercial & Institutional business segment. The profit share is not allocated to individual NatWest Markets product areas.

Q1 2025 performance

Financial review continued

Balance sheet profile as at 31 March 2025

NWM Group's balance sheet profile is summarised below. Commentary refers to the table below as well as the consolidated balance sheet on page 7.

Non-IFRS measures

This document contains a number of non-IFRS measures. For details of the basis of preparation and reconciliations, where applicable, refer to the non-IFRS measures section on page 11.

Capital, liquidity and funding risk

Introduction

NWM Group takes a comprehensive approach to the management of capital, liquidity and funding, underpinned by frameworks, risk appetite and policies, to manage and mitigate capital, liquidity and funding risks. The framework ensures the tools and capability are in place to facilitate the management and mitigation of risk ensuring that NWM Group operates within its regulatory requirements and risk appetite.

Capital, RWAs and leverage

Capital resources, RWAs and leverage for NWM Plc are set out below and have been calculated in line with the PRA rulebook, subject to the requirements set out in the UK CRR. Regulatory capital is monitored and reported at legal entity level for large subsidiaries of NatWest Group.

Leverage

The leverage ratio has been calculated in accordance with the Leverage Ratio (CRR) part of the PRA rulebook.

(1) Leverage exposure is broadly aligned to the accounting value of on and off-balance sheet exposures albeit subject to specific adjustments for derivatives, securities financing positions and off-balance sheet exposures.

Liquidity and funding

(1) LCR and Liquidity portfolio measures presented are for NWM Plc.

(2) Predominantly comprises bank deposits (excluding repos), debt securities in issue and third-party subordinated liabilities.

Condensed consolidated income statement

for the period ended 31 March 2025 (unaudited)

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income

for the period ended 31 March 2025 (unaudited)

Condensed consolidated balance sheet

as at 31 March 2025 (unaudited)

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity

for the period ended 31 March 2025 (unaudited)

Notes 

1. Presentation of condensed consolidated financial statements

The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with NatWest Markets Plc's 2024 Annual Report and Accounts. The accounting policies are the same as those applied in the consolidated financial statements.

The directors have prepared the condensed consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis after assessing the principal risks, forecasts, projections and other relevant evidence over the twelve months from the date they are approved.

2. Trading assets and liabilities

Trading assets and liabilities comprise assets and liabilities held at fair value in trading portfolios.

3. Other financial liabilities

4. Amounts due to holding company and fellow subsidiaries

Notes continued

5. Litigation

NatWest Markets Plc's 2024 Annual Report and Accounts, issued on 14 February 2025, included disclosures about NWM Group's litigation and regulatory matters in Note 25. Set out below are the material developments in those matters (all of which have been previously disclosed) since publication of the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.

FX litigation

NWM Plc, NatWest Markets Securities Inc. and/or NatWest Group plc are defendants in several cases relating to NWM Plc's foreign exchange (FX) business. In May 2025, NWM Plc executed an agreement to settle the claim in the Federal Court of Australia, subject to court approval of that settlement. The settlement amount is covered in full by an existing provision.

6. Changes to the NWM Board of Directors

In March 2025, Tamsin Rowe was appointed interim Chair of NWM Plc following the announcement that Frank Dangeard was taking a period of leave for personal reasons.

In April 2025, it was announced that Frank Dangeard would step down as Chair of NWM Plc with effect from 23 April 2025.

In April 2025, Rupert Hume Kendall and Thierry Roland were appointed as Non-Executive Directors of NWM Plc.

7. Post balance sheet events

There have been no significant events between 31 March 2025 and the date of approval of this announcement that would require a change to or additional disclosure in the announcement.

Non-IFRS measures

NWM Group prepares its financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB which constitutes a body of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This document contains a number of adjusted or alternative performance measures, also known as non-GAAP or non-IFRS performance measures. These measures are adjusted for certain items which management believe are not representative of the underlying performance of the business and which distort period-on-period comparison. These non-IFRS measures are not measures within the scope of IFRS and are not a substitute for IFRS measures. These measures include:

- Management analysis of operating expenses shows litigation and conduct costs on a separate line. These amounts are included within staff costs and other administrative expenses in the statutory analysis. Other operating expenses excludes litigation and conduct costs which are more volatile and may distort comparisons with prior periods. 

- Funded assets are defined as total assets less derivative assets. This measure allows review of balance sheet trends exclusive of the volatility associated with derivative fair values.

- Management view of income by business including shared revenue and before own credit adjustments. This measure is used to show underlying income generation in NatWest Markets excluding the impact of own credit adjustments.

- Revenue share refers to income generated by NatWest Markets products from customers that have their primary relationship with other NatWest Group subsidiaries, a proportion of which is shared between NatWest Markets and those subsidiaries.

- Transfer Pricing arrangements with fellow NatWest Group subsidiaries includes revenue share and a profit share arrangement with fellow NatWest Group subsidiaries. The profit share arrangement rewards NWM Group on an arm's length basis for its contribution to the performance of the NatWest Group Commercial & Institutional business segment. The profit share is not allocated to individual NatWest Markets product areas.

- Own credit adjustments are applied to positions where it is believed that the counterparties would consider NWM Group's creditworthiness when pricing trades. The fair value of certain issued debt securities, including structured notes, is adjusted to reflect the changes in own credit spreads and the resulting gain or loss recognised in income.

Operating expenses - management view

Additional information

Presentation of information

NatWest Markets Plc ('NWM Plc') is a wholly owned subsidiary of NatWest Group plc or 'the ultimate holding company'. The term 'NWM Group' or 'we' refers to NWM Plc and its subsidiary and associated undertakings. The term 'NatWest Group' refers to NatWest Group plc and its subsidiary and associated undertakings.

NWM Plc publishes its financial statements in pounds sterling ('£' or 'sterling'). The abbreviations '£m' and '£bn' represent millions and thousands of millions of pounds sterling, respectively, and references to 'pence' or 'p' represent pence in the United Kingdom ('UK'). Reference to 'dollars' or '$' are to United States of America ('US') dollars. The abbreviations '$m' and '$bn' represent millions and thousands of millions of dollars, respectively. The abbreviation '€' represents the 'euro', and the abbreviations '€m' and '€bn' represent millions and thousands of millions of euros, respectively.

Statutory results

Financial information contained in this document does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 ("the Act"). The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor on those statutory accounts was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Act.

Forward-looking statements

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

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 with respect to NWM Group's financial condition, results of operations and business, including its strategic priorities, financial, investment and capital targets, and ESG targets, commitments and ambitions described herein. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about NatWest Group's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as 'expect', 'estimate', 'project', 'anticipate', 'commit', 'believe', 'should', 'intend', 'will', 'plan', 'could', 'probability', 'risk', 'target', 'goal', 'objective', 'may', 'endeavour', 'outlook', 'optimistic', 'prospects' and similar expressions or variations on these expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this document includes forward-looking targets and guidance relating to financial performance measures, such as income growth, operating expense, cost reductions, impairment loss rates, balance sheet reduction (including the reduction of RWAs), CET1 ratio (and key drivers of the CET1 ratio, including timing, impact and details), Pillar 2 and other regulatory buffer requirements and MREL and non-financial performance measures, such as climate and sustainability-related performance ambitions, targets and metrics, including in relation to initiatives to transition to a net zero economy, climate and sustainable funding and financing and financed emissions.

Limitations inherent to forward-looking statements

These statements are based on current plans, expectations, estimates, targets and projections, and are subject to significant inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors, both external and relating to NatWest Group's and NWM Group's strategy or operations, which may result in NWM Group being unable to achieve the current plans, expectations, estimates, targets, projections and other anticipated outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, certain of these disclosures are dependent on choices relying on key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations, including assumptions and estimates made by management. By their nature, certain of these disclosures are only estimates and, as a result, actual future results, gains or losses could differ materially from those that have been estimated. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date we make them and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto, any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.

Important factors that could affect the actual outcome of the forward-looking statements

We caution you that a large number of important factors could adversely affect our results or our ability to implement our strategy, cause us to fail to meet our targets, predictions, expectations and other anticipated outcomes or affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements described in this document. These factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the risk factors and the other uncertainties described in NatWest Markets Plc's 2024 Annual Report and Accounts and its other public filings. The principal risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect NWM Group's future results, its financial condition and/or prospects and cause them to be materially different from what is forecast or expected, include, but are not limited to: economic and political risk (including in respect of: economic and political risks and uncertainties in the UK and global markets, including as a result of inflation and interest rates, supply chain disruption, and geopolitical developments; changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; and HM Treasury's ownership of NatWest Group plc); business change and execution risk (including in respect of: NatWest Group's strategy and NatWest Group's creation of its Commercial & Institutional business segment (of which NWM Group forms part) and the transfer of NatWest Group's Western European corporate portfolio); financial resilience risk (including in respect of: NWM Group's ability to meet targets, generate returns or implement its strategy effectively; prudential regulatory requirements for capital and MREL; NWM Group's reliance on access to capital markets directly or indirectly through its parent (NatWest Group); capital, funding and liquidity risk; reductions in the credit ratings; the competitive environment; the requirements of regulatory stress tests; counterparty and borrower risk; model risk; sensitivity to accounting policies, judgments, estimates and assumptions (and the economic, climate, competitive and other forward looking information affecting those judgments, estimates and assumptions); changes in applicable accounting standards; the adequacy of NatWest Group's resolution plans; and the application of UK statutory stabilisation or resolution powers to NatWest Group); climate and sustainability risk (including in respect of: risks relating to climate change and sustainability-related risks; both the execution and reputational risk relating to NatWest Group's climate change-related strategy, ambitions, targets and transition plan; climate and sustainability-related data and model risk; increasing levels of climate, environmental, human rights and other sustainability-related laws, regulation and oversight; climate, environmental, human rights and other sustainability-related litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations and conduct risk); operational and IT resilience risk (including in respect of: operational risks (including reliance on third party suppliers); cyberattacks; the accuracy and effective use of data; attracting, retaining and developing senior management and skilled personnel; complex IT systems; NWM Group's risk management framework; and NWM Group's reputational risk); and legal, regulatory and conduct risk (including in respect of: the impact of substantial regulation and oversight; the outcome of legal, regulatory and governmental actions and investigations as well as remedial undertakings; and changes in tax legislation or failure to generate future taxable profits).

Forward-looking statements continued

Climate and sustainability-related disclosures

Climate and sustainability-related disclosures in this document are not measures within the scope of International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'), use a greater number and level of judgments, assumptions and estimates, including with respect to the classification of climate and sustainable funding and financing activities, than our reporting of historical financial information in accordance with IFRS. These judgments, assumptions and estimates are highly likely to change materially over time, and, when coupled with the longer time frames used in these disclosures, make any assessment of materiality inherently uncertain. In addition, our climate risk analysis, our ambition to be net zero across our financed emissions, assets under management and operational value chain by 2050 and the implementation of our climate transition plan remain under development, and the data underlying our analysis and strategy remain subject to evolution over time. The process we have adopted to define, gather and report data on our performance on climate and sustainability-related measures is not subject to the formal processes adopted for financial reporting in accordance with IFRS and there are currently limited industry standards or globally recognised established practices for measuring and defining climate and sustainability-related metrics. As a result, we expect that certain climate and sustainability-related disclosures made in this document are likely to be amended, updated, recalculated or restated in the future. Refer to the cautionary statement in the section entitled 'Climate and sustainability-related and other forward-looking statements and metrics' of the NatWest Group 2024 Sustainability Report published by NatWest Group plc for the consolidated group, including NatWest Markets Plc.

Cautionary statement regarding Non-IFRS financial measures and APMs

NWM Group prepares its financial statements in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This document may contain financial measures and ratios not specifically defined under GAAP or IFRS ('Non-IFRS') and/or alternative performance measures ('APMs') as defined in European Securities and Markets Authority ('ESMA') guidelines. Non-IFRS measures and APMs are adjusted for notable and other defined items which management believes are not representative of the underlying performance of the business and which distort period-on-period comparison. Non-IFRS measures and APMs provide users of the financial statements with a consistent basis for comparing business performance between financial periods and information on elements of performance that are one-off in nature. Any Non-IFRS measures and/or APMs included in this document, are not measures within the scope of IFRS, are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and change, and are not a substitute for IFRS measures.

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 a solicitation of an 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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