Coutts & Co announces renewal of Principal Sponsorship for fourth year

Private bank Coutts & Co has announced its commitment to a fourth year as Principal Sponsor of the Almeida, which will extend until May 2007.

The partnership, which was recently shortlisted for the Arts & Business, Arts, Business and Brand Identity award, took effect when the newly refurbished theatre opened in May 2003 and began initially as a vehicle for client entertainment. It has since expanded to incorporate brand visibility, theatre based development workshops for employees and business development opportunities on both sides. Coutts has provided vital financial support to the theatre, facilitating greater artistic freedom. Additionally, a number of Coutts clients have also become patrons of the Almeida.

In addition, the partnership was awarded an Arts & Business New Partners Grant in 2005, which was used to create ‘Portrait of a Bank’, a short film about Coutts, as seen by its employees. After exploring staff perceptions of the organisation at all levels and sections of the company, director Boz Temple Morris explored the brand identity from the personal perspective of six individuals. The film can be viewed online at www.coutts.com from 5^th April.

Sarah Deaves. Chief Executive, Coutts & Co, commented: “We are delighted to commit to a further 12 months as Principal Sponsor of the Almeida Theatre.We have a very special partnership with the Almeida that has flourished over the past three years. They create great theatre for our clients and constantly surprise and delight with their ground-breaking productions. The money that we invest not only helps support the rich diversity of productions on the London stage, but allows us access to the Almeida's creative expertise to help train our staff and develop the Coutts brand”

Michael Attenborough, Artistic Director, Almeida added, "Coutts' support is of course integral to the financial stability of the theatre - but beyond that, Coutts has become a crucial part of the Almeida’s life. Our partnership is successful because it is genuinely mutually beneficial, enabling a creative exchange of ideas, building a bridge between the worlds of business and culture, with tangible, meaningful and practical results.  We are delighted that Coutts will be our Principal Sponsors for a fourth year and look forward to another highly creative year together"

Colin Tweedy, Chief Executive, Arts & Business said "I am delighted that Coutts and the Almeida Theatre have now entered into a fourth year of their partnership to achieve the aim of developing both staff and the brand even further, and exemplifying Coutts' continued support for the performing arts.”

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For more information on the Almeida’s sponsorship programme, please contact Elizabeth Fowler 020 7288 4934 or visit www.almeida.co.uk.

For further media information on Coutts contact:

Claire Symonds, Regional PR Manager, Coutts & Co on 0207 957 2650 or mobile 07970 001149 or e-mail claire.symonds@coutts.com

• Coutts is the international private banking arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is one of the world's largest banking groups.
• Coutts manages the wealth of 98,000 high net worth clients worldwide through a network of 40 offices globally.
• Coutts currently one of the UK’s leading corporate sponsors of the performing arts, with a sponsorship commitment exceeding £1million. This includes support of Welsh National Opera, the Almeida Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre and The Royal Opera.
• The first Coutts regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. The most recent new opening was Liverpool at the end of 2003. 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.
• Coutts for three years running, (2003-2005) was awarded ‘Best Use of Long-Only Multi-Manager Structures’ at the Private Asset Management Awards
• Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Coutts & Co Registered in England No 36695Registered Office 440 Strand London WC2R 0QS
• Calls may be recorded

www.coutts.com