Sarah Deaves, Coutts UK CEO said “We are extremely proud to be the principal sponsor of the Almeida. Our second year of sponsorship comes as a result of the very positive experience we had with the theatre in 2003. This innovative partnership provides a ‘more than money can buy’ opportunity for Coutts and our clients. The partnership includes such unique benefits as access to all performances, Coutts client receptions and dinners with Almeida production actors such as Jonny and Jane, as well as a series of skills development workshops specially designed for Coutts, using theatre techniques as a training tool.”

Michael Attenborough, Artistic Director of the Almeida added: “We are delighted that Coutts has chosen to extend its support of the theatre to May 2005. Coutts’ sponsorship enables the Almeida to continue to exist at the forefront of repertory theatre and remain committed to producing the discerning, cutting-edge productions people have come to expect.”

Following David Eldridge’s Festen starring Jonny Lee Miller, which opened on 18 March and runs till 24 April the beginning of the Almeida’s new season will be marked with the opening ‘Whistling Psyche’ starring Claire Bloom on 7^th May.

Coutts is committed to and has a long history of supporting the performing arts. In addition to the Almeida theatre, Coutts currently sponsors the Royal Opera House, Welsh National Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera.

-Ends-

For further media information contact: Rachel Faulkner, Public Relations Manager, Coutts Group on 0207 957 2427 or mobile 07970 001156 or e-mail rachel.faulkner@coutts.com

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 Notes to Editors

• Coutts & Co is the UK private banking arm of the Coutts Group, an international private banking group owned by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland is the fifth largest banking group in the world by market capitalisation as at 31st December 2003.
  
  
• The Coutts Group manages the wealth of 90,000 high net worth clients worldwide through a network of 50 offices globally.
  
  
• The first Coutts regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. The most recent new opening was Liverpool, late last year. Today, Coutts has regional offices in Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Eton, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Tunbridge Wells & Winchester.
  
  
• Coutts offers clients a range of products and services covering sophisticated investment products together with expertise in trust and fiduciary services and UK tax and banking services.
  
  
• The Coutts Group has for the second year in a row been awarded ‘Best Use of Long-Only Multi-Manager Structures’ at the Private Asset Management Awards 2004
  
  
• Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England No. 36695. Registered office: 440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS

Stars of Stage and Screen Join Coutts & Co in Celebrating Second Term of Sponsorship of the Almedia Theatre

1st April 2004

UK’s leading private bank’s commitment to the performing arts tops £1m

Stars of the Almeida theatre’s production ‘Festen’ - Jonny Lee-Miller and Jane Asher - today joined Coutts’ Chief Executive Sarah Deaves in celebrating the private bank’s announcement of its second year of sponsorship for pioneering London theatre – the Almeida. This second year of support brings Coutts’ total sponsorship of the performing arts to over £1 million.

Coutts has funded the Almeida since May 2003 and the theatre now forms a major part of Coutts’ long term commitment to the performing arts. Last year Coutts was awarded an Arts and Business New Partner’s Investment of £35,000 by the Arts and Business Committee to help further develop its sponsorship of the Almeida. This enabled the theatre to run a series of innovative and bespoke initiatives on behalf of its principal sponsor.