lloy201502276k.htm
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.20549
 
 
FORM 6-K
 
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
27 February 2015

LLOYDS BANKING GROUP plc

(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
5th Floor
25 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HN
United Kingdom
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
Form 20-F..X..     Form 40-F.....
 
 
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.
 
Yes .....      No ..X..
 
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule
12g3-2(b): 82- ________
 
 
Index to Exhibits
 
 


Lloyds Banking Group plc

 
2014 Full-Year Results

 
27 February 2015

 

 
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
This release covers the results of Lloyds Banking Group plc together with its subsidiaries (the Group) for the year ended 31 December 2014.
Statutory basis
Statutory information is set out on pages 67 to 113. However, a number of factors have had a significant effect on the comparability of the Group’s financial position and results. As a result, comparison on a statutory basis of the 2014 results with 2013 is of limited benefit.
Underlying basis
In order to present a more meaningful view of business performance, the results are presented on an underlying basis excluding items that in management’s view would distort the comparison of performance between periods. Based on this principle the following items are excluded from underlying profit:
         – the amortisation of purchased intangible assets and the unwind of acquisition-related fair value adjustments;
             – the effects of certain asset sales, the impact of liability management actions and the volatility relating to the Group’s own debt and hedging arrangements as well as that arising in the insurance businesses and insurance
            gross up;
             – Simplification costs, TSB build and dual running costs;
             – payment protection insurance and other regulatory provisions; and
             – certain past service pensions credits or charges in respect of the Group’s defined benefit pension arrangements.
 
Unless otherwise stated, income statement commentaries throughout this document compare the year ended 31 December 2014 to the year ended 31 December 2013, and the balance sheet analysis compares the Group balance sheet as at 31 December 2014 to the Group balance sheet as at 31 December 2013.
Segment information and TSB
The segment results and balance sheet information have been restated to reflect the previously announced changes to the Group operating structure implemented from 1 January 2014. The Group’s underlying profit and statutory results are unchanged as a result of these restatements. The Group’s consolidated results and balance sheet include TSB. Any TSB disclosures in the document are presented on a Lloyds Banking Group basis and may differ to the equivalent figures disclosed in the TSB results release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This document contains certain forward looking statements with respect to the business, strategy and plans of Lloyds Banking Group and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Lloyds Banking Group’s or its directors’ and/or management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward looking statements. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that will or may occur in the future. Factors that could cause actual business, strategy, plans and/or results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward looking statements made by the Group or on its behalf include, but are not limited to: general economic and business conditions in the UK and internationally; market related trends and developments, fluctuations in exchange rates, stock markets and currencies; the ability to access sufficient sources of capital, liquidity and funding when required; changes to the Group’s credit ratings; the ability to derive cost savings; changing customer behaviour including consumer spending, saving and borrowing habits; changes to borrower or counterparty credit quality; instability in the global financial markets, including Eurozone instability and the impact of any sovereign credit rating downgrade or other sovereign financial issues; technological changes and risks to cyber security; pandemic, natural and other disasters, adverse weather and similar contingencies outside the Group’s control; inadequate or failed internal or external processes or systems; acts of war, other acts of hostility, terrorist acts and responses to those acts, geopolitical, pandemic or other such events; changes in laws, regulations, accounting standards or taxation, including as a result of further Scottish devolution; changes to regulatory capital or liquidity requirements and similar contingencies outside the Group’s control; the policies, decisions and actions of governmental or regulatory authorities in the UK, the European Union (EU), the US or elsewhere including the implementation of key legislation and regulation; the ability to attract and retain senior management and other employees; requirements or limitations imposed on the Group as a result of HM Treasury’s investment in the Group; actions or omissions by the Group’s directors, management or employees including industrial action; changes to the Group’s post-retirement defined benefit scheme obligations; the ability to complete satisfactorily the disposal of certain assets as part of the Group’s EU State Aid obligations; the provision of banking operations services to TSB Banking Group plc; the extent of any future impairment charges or write-downs caused by, but not limited to, depressed asset valuations, market disruptions and illiquid markets; the value and effectiveness of any credit protection purchased by the Group; the inability to hedge certain risks economically; the adequacy of loss reserves; the actions of competitors, including non-bank financial services and lending companies; and exposure to regulatory or competition scrutiny, legal proceedings, regulatory or competition investigations or complaints. Please refer to the latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of certain factors together with examples of forward looking statements. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the forward looking statements contained in this document are made as of today’s date, and Lloyds Banking Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements.


CONTENTS

 
Page 
Key highlights
Consolidated income statement
Balance sheet and key ratios
Summary consolidated balance sheet
Group Chief Executive’s statement
Chief Financial Officer’s review of financial performance
Underlying basis segmental analysis
17 
Underlying basis quarterly information
18 
   
Divisional highlights
 
Retail
19 
Commercial Banking
21 
Consumer Finance
23 
Insurance
25 
Run-off and Central items
28 
   
Additional information
 
Reconciliation between statutory and underlying basis results
29 
Banking net interest margin
30 
Volatility arising in the insurance businesses
30 
Number of employees (full-time equivalent)
32 
TSB
32 
Remuneration
33 
   
Risk management
34 
Principal risks and uncertainties
35 
Credit risk portfolio
37 
Funding and liquidity management
53 
Capital management
58 
   
Statutory information
67 
Primary statements
 
Consolidated income statement
68 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
69 
Consolidated balance sheet
70 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
72 
Consolidated cash flow statement
74 
Notes
75 
   
Contacts
114 
   


RESULTS FOR THE FULL YEAR
Substantial strategic progress and improved performance

‘Over the last four years we have transformed Lloyds Banking Group into a low cost, low risk, UK focused retail and commercial bank. This has been made possible by the hard work of everyone at the Group.

Today’s results also demonstrate that our profitability and capital position have improved significantly, and this has enabled the Board, for the first time in over six years, to recommend we pay a dividend to our shareholders.

While we recognise we have more to do, we enter the next phase of our strategy from a position of strength. We will remain focused on our customers, embrace the digital age throughout the whole Group, continue our support for the UK economy and aim to deliver strong and sustainable returns for our shareholders.’
António Horta-Osório
Group Chief Executive

Delivery of 2011 strategic priorities has transformed the business; strategy updated in October
 
·  
Group has been reshaped with Run-off assets reduced to £16.9 billion (2013: £33.3 billion) and international presence reduced to six countries from 30 countries in 2010
 
·  
Strong balance sheet and liquidity position attained with, post dividend, a CET1 ratio of 12.8 per cent, a total capital ratio of 22.0 per cent and a leverage ratio of 4.9 per cent
 
·  
Cost leadership position achieved with cost:income ratio of 51 per cent
 
·  
Lending and deposit growth in key customer segments and relationship brands
 
·  
Strategy updated in October with focus on creating the best customer experience, becoming simpler and more efficient and delivering sustainable growth
 

Continue to support customers and the UK economy
 
·  
£11.9 billion of mortgage lending to over 89,000 first-time buyers and continued growth in SME lending, up 5 per cent
 
·  
Continued to support our communities with over 2,200 apprenticeship positions and over 940,000 paid volunteer hours
 

Substantial increase in underlying profit and returns
 
·  
Underlying profit increased 26 per cent to £7.8 billion (2013: £6.2 billion)
 
·  
Return on risk-weighted assets increased to 3.02 per cent (2013: 2.14 per cent)
 
·  
Income of £18.4 billion, up 1 per cent excluding St. James’s Place effects in 2013
 
–  
Net interest income up 8 per cent, driven by margin improvement to 2.45 per cent
 
–  
Other income down 9 per cent reflecting disposals and a challenging operating environment
 
·  
Costs down 2 per cent to £9.4 billion (cost base of £9.0 billion excluding TSB)
 
·  
Impairment charge reduced 60 per cent to £1.2 billion; asset quality ratio improved 33 basis points to 0.24 per cent
 

Statutory profit before tax of £1.8 billion (2013: £0.4 billion) despite legacy items
 
·  
£2.2 billion provision for PPI in the year (2013: £3.1 billion) and a £0.9 billion provision for other regulatory items
 
·  
Statutory profit after tax of £1.5 billion (2013: loss of £0.8 billion)
 
·  
Tangible net assets per share increased to 54.9p (31 Dec 2013: 48.5p)
 

Guidance reflects confidence in the future
 
·  
2015 full year net interest margin expected to be around 2.55 per cent
 
·  
2015 full year asset quality ratio expected to be around 30 basis points
 
·  
Expect other income to be broadly stable in 2015
 
·  
Targeting cost:income ratio to exit 2017 at around 45 per cent, with reductions in each year
 
·  
Expect to generate between 1.5 and 2 percentage points of common equity tier 1 per annum (pre dividend)
 
·  
Expected return on required equity of 13.5-15 per cent by the end of the strategic plan period (2017)
 

 
Dividend
 
·  
Recommending a dividend of 0.75 pence per share in respect of 2014, amounting to £535 million
 

 
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT − UNDERLYING BASIS

   
2014 
 
2013 
 
Change
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
%
Net interest income
 
11,761 
 
10,885 
 
Other income
 
6,607 
 
7,920 
 
(17)
Total income
 
18,368 
 
18,805 
 
(2)
Total costs
 
(9,412)
 
(9,635)
 
Impairment
 
(1,200)
 
(3,004)
 
60 
Underlying profit
 
7,756 
 
6,166 
 
26 
             
Asset sales and other items
 
(1,719)
 
(280)
   
Simplification and TSB costs
 
(1,524)
 
(1,517)
   
Payment Protection Insurance provision
 
(2,200)
 
(3,050)
   
Other regulatory provisions
 
(925)
 
(405)
   
Other items
 
374 
 
(499)
   
Profit before tax – statutory
 
1,762 
 
415 
   
Taxation
 
(263)
 
(1,217)
   
Profit (loss) for the year
 
1,499 
 
(802)
   
             
Underlying earnings per share1
 
8.1p 
 
6.6p 
 
1.5p 
Earnings (loss) per share
 
1.7p 
 
(1.2)p 
 
2.9p 
             
Banking net interest margin
 
2.45% 
 
2.12% 
 
33bp 
Cost:income ratio2
 
51.2% 
 
52.9% 
 
(1.7)pp 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.24% 
 
0.57% 
 
(33)bp 
Return on risk-weighted assets3
 
3.02% 
 
2.14% 
 
88bp 
Return on assets3
 
0.92% 
 
0.70% 
 
22bp 
Underlying return on required equity4
 
13.6% 
 
9.7% 
 
3.9pp 
Statutory return on required equity4
 
3.0% 
 
(1.3)% 
 
4.3pp 

BALANCE SHEET AND KEY RATIOS

   
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Change 
Loans and advances to customers5
 
£478bn 
 
£493bn 
 
(3)
Loans and advances to customers excluding TSB,
Run-off and other5,6
 
£406bn 
 
£402bn 
 
Customer deposits7
 
£447bn 
 
£436bn 
 
Loan to deposit ratio
 
107% 
 
113% 
 
(6)pp 
Total assets
 
£855bn 
 
£842bn 
 
Run-off assets
 
£17bn 
 
£33bn 
 
(49)
Wholesale funding
 
£116bn 
 
£138bn 
 
(15)
Common equity tier 1 ratio8,9
 
12.8% 
 
10.3% 
 
2.5pp 
Transitional total capital ratio8,9
 
22.0% 
 
18.8% 
 
3.2pp 
Risk-weighted assets8,9
 
£240bn 
 
£272bn 
 
(12)
Leverage ratio9,10
 
4.9% 
 
3.8% 
 
1.1pp 
             
Tangible net assets per share
 
54.9p 
 
48.5p 
 
6.4p 

1
In calculating underlying earnings per share, tax has been assumed at the standard UK corporation tax rate for the year.
2
Excluding impact of St. James’s Place.
3
Underlying profit before tax divided by average quarter end risk-weighted and total assets respectively.
4
See definition on page 13.
5
Excludes reverse repos of £5.1 billion (31 December 2013: £0.1 billion). Loans and advances comparative restated, see note 1, page 75.
6
Other includes the specialist mortgage book, Intelligent Finance and Dutch mortgages.
7
Excludes repos of £nil (31 December 2013: £3.0 billion). Customer deposits comparative restated, see note 1, page 75.
8
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.
9
31 December 2013 comparatives are reported on a pro forma basis that includes the benefit of the sales of Heidelberger Leben, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and the Group’s 50 per cent stake in Sainsbury’s Bank.
10
Following PRA guidance, calculated in accordance with the January 2014 revised Basel III leverage ratio framework.
 
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

   
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
Assets
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
         
Cash and balances at central banks
 
50,492 
 
49,915 
Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
 
151,931 
 
142,683 
Derivative financial instruments1
 
36,128 
 
30,804 
Loans and receivables:
       
Loans and advances to customers1
 
482,704 
 
492,952 
Loans and advances to banks
 
26,155 
 
25,365 
Debt securities
 
1,213 
 
1,355 
   
510,072 
 
519,672 
Available-for-sale financial assets
 
56,493 
 
43,976 
Other assets
 
49,780 
 
55,330 
Total assets
 
854,896 
 
842,380 

Liabilities
Deposits from banks
 
10,887 
 
13,982 
Customer deposits1
 
447,067 
 
439,467 
Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
 
62,102 
 
43,625 
Derivative financial instruments1
 
33,187 
 
27,658 
Debt securities in issue
 
76,233 
 
87,102 
Liabilities arising from insurance and investment contracts
 
114,486 
 
110,758 
Subordinated liabilities
 
26,042 
 
32,312 
Other liabilities
 
34,989 
 
48,140 
Total liabilities
 
804,993 
 
803,044 
         
Shareholders’ equity
 
43,335 
 
38,989 
 
Other equity instruments
 
5,355 
 
− 
 
Non-controlling interests
 
1,213 
 
347 
 
Total equity
 
49,903 
 
39,336 
 
Total liabilities and equity
 
854,896 
 
842,380 
 

1
See note 1, page 75.


 
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

Highlights
2014 was a year of continued delivery for the Group, with the achievement of the key objectives set out in our 2011 strategic plan resulting in a significant transformation of the business and improvement in performance. Strategically, we are now a low risk bank, with a strong balance sheet and funding position and industry cost leadership, all of which provide competitive differentiation.

This delivery has, in turn, enabled the UK government to make further progress in returning the Group to full private ownership. In 2014 the UK government reduced its shareholding through the second successful sale of part of its stake in March and the launch of a pre-arranged trading plan in December which provides a means for an orderly sell down that will end no later than June 2015. On 20 February 2015, we were advised that UKFI’s interest in the Group had reduced to 23.9 per cent. In the summer, we sold 38.5 per cent of TSB via a well-received Initial Public Offering, with this and the subsequent sale of a further 11.5 per cent stake in September resulting in us being firmly on track to meet our European Commission State Aid commitments.

The Board recognises the importance of sustainable and growing dividends to our shareholders and is today announcing the resumption of dividend payments, with a recommended dividend payment of 0.75 pence per share in respect of 2014. This is a symbolic development that bears testament to our successful transformation and improved risk profile of the business.

Given this strong strategic progress and the improvement in our financial performance and position, we have a firm foundation to deliver the new strategic priorities that we set out in October and we are well placed to continue to support and benefit from the strengthening UK economy and to be the best bank for our customers and shareholders.

Financial performance in 2014
We delivered a significant improvement in financial performance at both an underlying and statutory level. Underlying profit increased by 26 per cent to £7,756 million, with the Group’s return on risk-weighted assets (RoRWA) improving by 88 basis points to 3.02 per cent. At a divisional level, all of our banking businesses delivered a robust performance with improvements in underlying profit and RoRWA in our Retail, Commercial Banking and Consumer Finance divisions after increased investment made to deliver growth. Underlying profit was lower in our Insurance division, reflecting the challenging market backdrop and regulatory and legislative changes that have similarly affected the wider industry.

Net interest income increased by 8 per cent, driven by a 33 basis point improvement in the net interest margin to 2.45 per cent and increased lending in our key customer segments. Other income excluding St. James’s Place effects was 9 per cent lower, reflecting business disposals and a challenging operating environment. Underlying costs were reduced by 2 per cent, while the effective management of our lending portfolio, coupled with the benign economic and low interest rate environment, resulted in a substantial 60 per cent reduction in the impairment charge to £1,200 million.

On a statutory basis, the Group reported a profit before tax of £1,762 million compared to £415 million in 2013. This was after £2,200 million of charges in respect of PPI (2013: £3,050 million) and other regulatory provisions of £925 million (2013: £405 million).

Helping Britain Prosper and delivering growth in our key customer segments
As a UK centric retail and commercial bank, our future is inextricably linked to the health of the UK economy. In 2014 the UK economy continued to recover, with GDP growing robustly, unemployment falling, and both consumer and business confidence increasing. UK house prices have also continued to recover strongly, with an 8.4 per cent increase in the year. Against this, affordability measures remain good, with the recent calming of house price appreciation in London and the South East a welcome development.

 
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT (continued)

We are committed to helping Britain and its communities and in March we launched our Helping Britain Prosper Plan. This initiative comprises a number of public commitments in areas where we can make the biggest difference and create value for our customers across households, businesses and our communities, in turn supporting our goal of being the best bank for customers. Since its launch, all of our divisions have made good progress in implementing this Plan, with the Group exceeding each of its lending commitments in 2014 while also delivering lending growth in our key customer segments.

In our Retail division, we provided £11.9 billion of lending to over 89,000 first-time buyers as well as 1 in 5 of all mortgage loans to customers buying their home in the UK in 2014, with total gross mortgage lending of £40 billion, 13 per cent higher than the prior year. We remain the largest participant in the UK government’s Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme, lending £1.9 billion through this scheme in the year. In Retail Business Banking, we also supported over 100,000 new business start-ups.

The Commercial Banking division continued to take a leading role in supporting the UK economic recovery, with SME lending growing for the fourth consecutive year against a market that has contracted each year, increasing by 5 per cent in 2014. Lending to Mid Market corporates also increased by 2 per cent in a market that contracted by around 3 per cent. We remain firm supporters of the UK government’s Funding for Lending scheme, committing over £15.5 billion of eligible lending and £1 billion to UK manufacturing during 2014.

In Consumer Finance, we achieved UK lending growth of 17 per cent to £16.0 billion, driven by 43 per cent growth in Asset Finance and a return to growth in our cards business following eight years of decline. New business growth was also strong, with a 48 per cent increase in Black Horse new business partly reflecting the launch of the Jaguar Land Rover partnership, and Cards benefiting from a 15 per cent increase in balance transfer volumes from new and existing customers as well as a 4 per cent increase in new consumer credit card accounts opened.

In Insurance, we have seen good momentum in our corporate pensions business where we are a market leader, serving over 11,500 employers and 1.4 million employees who have invested a total of £27 billion of assets with us. In 2014, the number of employees covered by these schemes increased by 40 per cent, principally reflecting our ongoing support for employers through the auto-enrolment process.

Our support for our customers and communities does not just extend to the lending commitments we have made to our key customer groups. It also covers a number of other initiatives through the Helping Britain Prosper Plan. In 2014, we delivered against the majority of these major commitments, donating £16.5 million to the Bank’s Foundations to help tackle disadvantage and now having trained over 1,300 colleagues as mentors to SMEs and social entrepreneurs and provided over 940,000 of paid volunteer hours to support community projects.

Delivering the best bank to our key stakeholders
Our strong performance in 2014 marks the culmination of four years of delivery against our strategic plan that has transformed the business for the benefit of our stakeholders.

For our shareholders, we have delivered a significant improvement in financial performance, while improving the risk profile of the bank and strengthening the balance sheet.

We have strengthened underlying performance from a loss of £0.9 billion in 2010 to a profit of £7.8 billion in 2014, driven by a combination of lower impairment charges and a reduction in the Group’s cost base. While our statutory result has also increased significantly over this period, our pre-tax profit of £1.8 billion in 2014 continued to be affected by PPI and other regulatory provisions as well as costs associated with TSB, the Simplification programme and the ECN exchange.

Looking ahead, while regulatory and conduct risks remain, we believe that the Group’s statutory performance will become significantly less impacted by such issues, resulting in a far greater proportion of our underlying financial performance flowing through to shareholder returns over time.


GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT (continued)

In 2014 we achieved our enhanced target of delivering £2 billion of annual run-rate savings through the first phase of our Simplification programme, resulting in a reduction in our cost base from over £11 billion in 2010 to £9.0 billion (excluding TSB). Our cost:income ratio of 51.2 per cent is now the lowest amongst our major UK banking peers, in turn delivering a cost leadership position as a strategic differentiator and source of competitive advantage.

Being a low risk bank is also central to our strategy and business model, while supporting our aim of being best bank for our shareholders by reducing earnings volatility. This is illustrated by our credit default swap (CDS) spread reducing from over 300 basis points (bps) at the end of 2011 to less than 50 bps at the end of 2014, which is one of the best in the banking sector worldwide. We have significantly reduced risk in our lending business through careful portfolio management, the centralisation of the risk division and the implementation of tighter underwriting standards and controls. As a consequence, non-performing loans have reduced from over 10 per cent of lending balances in 2010 to less than 3 per cent in 2014. Over the same period, we have successfully reshaped the Group, reducing our non-core portfolio from £194 billion, or 25 per cent of customer loans, by £148 billion in a capital accretive way. As of December 2014, we now have a remaining Run-off portfolio of £16.9 billion, with lending assets of £14.4 billion within this total representing 3 per cent of customer loans.

Our balance sheet and funding position have also been transformed, with our post dividend Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio strengthening to 12.8 per cent through a combination of earnings generation, a reduction in risk-weighted assets as we de-risk the business, and other management actions. Our CET1 ratio is now amongst the strongest within the banking sector worldwide, positioning us well against the backdrop of evolving regulatory requirements for capital and leverage. Most recently this has been demonstrated by the Group exceeding the minimum thresholds set in the recent stress tests conducted by the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the PRA, despite the heavy weighting of the stress parameters against a UK retail and commercial banking business model such as ours.

At the same time, we have significantly reduced our reliance on wholesale funding through the careful management of our lending portfolio and the growth in our relationship deposit base, with our loan to deposit ratio strengthening from 154 per cent in 2010 to 107 per cent. Our wholesale funding requirement at the end of 2014 of £116 billion compares to £298 billion at the end of 2010 and is broadly matched by our primary liquid asset portfolio of £109 billion.

Being the best bank for customers is at the heart of our strategy. In support of this, we have continued to invest in our product propositions as well as our branches, digital and telephony channels, with key customer benefits from this investment ranging from reduced processing times, improved ease of access and convenience, and greater efficiency. Digital remains a key area of growth and investment for the business and has now been expanded as a Group-wide division spanning across all business areas, reflecting our customers’ evolving preferences in how they interact with us. At the end of 2014, our active online user base was over 10.4 million customers, within which our active mobile users were over 5 million: a 29 per cent increase compared to the end of 2013.

Our success in improving the customer experience has been reflected in net promoter scores (NPS), which have increased by 50 per cent since 2010, and Group reportable banking complaints (excluding PPI), which have reduced significantly over the same period and are now approximately 50 per cent lower than the average of our major banking peers.

Rebuilding customer trust remains a key imperative for the business. In support of this, we have continued to transform the corporate culture and have completely overhauled the performance and reward framework for our customer-facing colleagues, with performance now predominantly assessed on the basis of customer feedback.

We have also strengthened the control environment through changes to our organisational design and the introduction of standardised templates across the Group to assess and monitor our risk appetite. While these improvements have been essential in helping us to rebuild customer trust, we recognise there is more to do and that we still have legacy issues to work through.


GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT (continued)

Strategic update
In October 2014 we set out the next phase of our strategy, highlighting our key priorities for the next three years and how we intend to deliver value and high quality experiences for customers, alongside strong and sustainable financial performance for our shareholders within a prudent risk and conduct framework.

The first of our three strategic priorities is ‘creating the best customer experience’. We will achieve this through our multi-brand, multi-channel approach by combining comprehensive online and mobile capabilities with face-to-face services delivered through our branch and relationship manager network. We will invest £1 billion over the next three years in digital capability across all business divisions, delivering better service with greater efficiency. This transformation will reflect our customers’ changing preferences in how they choose to interact with us, providing seamless access through a secure and resilient digital infrastructure.

Secondly, we will create operational capability by ‘becoming simpler and more efficient’, enabling us to be more responsive to changing customer expectations and to maintain our cost leadership position amongst UK high street banks as a source of competitive advantage. Through the simplification and increased automation of key processes, the reduction in third party spend and changes to our organisational design, we expect to deliver a further £1 billion of annual run-rate savings by the end of 2017, creating value for customers and improving our long-term competitiveness.

Finally, we expect to ‘deliver sustainable growth’ by seeking Group-wide growth opportunities while maintaining our prudent risk appetite. We intend to maintain market leadership in our main retail business lines of mortgages and current accounts by growing in line with the market, making the most of our multi-brand, multi-channel strategy to meet customer needs. We have also identified a number of growth opportunities in segments and areas where we are currently underrepresented and will look to grow above the market, including business banking, financial planning and retirement, and unsecured consumer lending. Consequently, over the next three years we expect to grow net lending in our key customer segments by over £30 billion, comprising growth in line with the market in retail mortgages, coupled with increases in net lending of £3 billion in both our SME and Mid Markets segments, £4 billion growth in customer assets in Asset Finance and £2 billion in credit cards. We also expect to grow customer assets by over £10 billion in our Insurance division over this timeframe through supporting our retail and corporate customers in making long-term preparations for retirement.

Over the next three years, we expect the UK financial services industry to undergo an unprecedented rate of change, driven by technology, changing customer behaviour and increasing regulatory requirements at a time when traditional competitors’ strategies converge and new entrants compete for customers. The successful delivery of our strategic priorities over the next three years will ensure that we are well placed to anticipate and react to these changes, in turn enabling us to retain our leading position in the UK market while delivering value to our customers and shareholders.

Outlook
Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our colleagues, we are entering the next three year phase of our strategy from a position of strength. Together we have delivered the strategic objectives we set out in 2011 resulting in a business that has been transformed, with a reshaped and lower risk portfolio focused on our core UK markets, a strengthened capital and funding position, and a more efficient cost base.

While we recognise we still have a lot more to do, these strong foundations give us confidence in our prospects and our ability to achieve our strategic objectives over the next three years, despite uncertainties with regard to the political, regulatory, economic and competitive environment. We are therefore well positioned to continue to progress towards being the best bank for our customers while delivering strong and sustainable returns for our shareholders and supporting the UK economic recovery.

António Horta-Osório
Group Chief Executive

 
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Overview: strong underlying profitability and balance sheet
The Group’s underlying profit increased by 26 per cent in the year to £7,756 million, with a 2 per cent fall in income more than offset by a 2 per cent reduction in costs and a 60 per cent improvement in impairments. Excluding the effects of St. James’s Place, which benefited the 2013 results, total underlying income was up 1 per cent, and expenses were down 2 per cent with underlying profit up 40 per cent.

Statutory profit before tax in 2014 was £1,762 million (2013: £415 million) after provisions for PPI of £2,200 million (2013: £3,050 million) and other regulatory matters of £925 million (2013: £405 million), liability management losses of £1,386 million (2013: £142 million), Simplification and TSB build and dual running costs of £1,524 million (2013: £1,517 million) and a pension credit of £710 million (2013: charge £104 million). The statutory profit after tax in 2014 was £1,499 million compared to a loss after tax of £802 million in 2013. In the 2014 half year results news release we stated that we expected the full year statutory profit to be significantly ahead of the first half. Statutory profit before tax in the year was £1,762 million compared with £863 million in the first half.

Total loans and advances to customers were £477.6 billion at 31 December 2014, 3 per cent lower than at 31 December 2013, with growth in the key customer segments of mortgages, SME lending, Mid Markets and UK Consumer Finance offset by reductions in balances in the Run-off portfolio and lending to Global Corporate customers. Customer deposits were £447.1 billion at 31 December 2014, an increase of £10.6 billion, or 2 per cent, since 31 December 2013 with growth of relationship deposits, partly offset by a reduction in tactical brands.

The Group’s risk-weighted assets have fallen by 12 per cent to £239.7 billion reflecting the reduction in Run-off assets, active portfolio management in Commercial Banking and the improving economic conditions.

The Group’s liquidity position continues to improve with increased primary liquidity up £20.0 billion to £109.3 billion. In addition, the Group has a further £99.2 billion of secondary liquid assets, a proportion of which are expected to be eligible for the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR). Based on the Group’s current understanding of the LCR standards due to be implemented in October 2015, the Group believes that it met the upcoming requirements as at 31 December 2014.

The combination of strong underlying profitability and continued reduction in risk-weighted assets resulted in a further improvement in the Group’s common equity tier 1 ratio to 12.8 per cent at 31 December 2014 after the 0.2 per cent impact of the recommended dividend (31 December 2013: 10.3 per cent pro forma) and the leverage ratio to 4.9 per cent post dividend (31 December 2013: 3.8 per cent pro forma). The increase in the leverage ratio also reflects the issue of additional tier 1 securities (AT1) in the second quarter.

Total income
   
2014 
 
2013 
 
Change 
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
             
Net interest income
 
11,761 
 
10,884 
 
Banking fees and commissions
 
2,775 
 
2,987 
 
(7)
Insurance income
 
1,944 
 
2,234 
 
(13)
Operating lease and other income
 
1,437 
 
1,434 
 
− 
Run-off
 
451 
 
604 
 
(25)
Other income
 
6,607 
 
7,259 
 
(9)
Total underlying income
 
18,368 
 
18,143 
 
St. James’s Place
 
− 
 
662 
   
Total income
 
18,368 
 
18,805 
 
(2)
             
Banking net interest margin
 
2.45% 
 
2.12% 
 
33bp 
Banking net interest margin excluding TSB
 
2.40% 
 
2.10% 
 
30bp 
Average interest-earning banking assets
 
£483.7bn 
 
£510.9bn 
 
(5)
Average interest-earning banking assets excluding TSB
 
£461.1bn 
 
£486.7bn 
 
(5)


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

Total income of £18,368 million was 2 per cent lower than in 2013, with strong growth in net interest income offset by lower other income. Adjusting for St. James’s Place effects, total underlying income increased by 1 per cent.

Net interest income increased 8 per cent to £11,761 million, reflecting the continued improvement in net interest margin and loan growth in our key customer segments, partly offset by the effect of disposals and the reduced Run-off portfolio. Net interest margin increased to 2.45 per cent, up 33 basis points, benefiting from improved deposit pricing and lower funding costs (including approximately 7 basis points from the Enhanced Capital Notes (ECNs) exchange in the first half), partly offset by continued pressure on asset prices. The net interest margin in the fourth quarter was 2.47 per cent, 4 basis points lower than in the previous quarter as a result of a one-off charge to net interest income following the decision to simplify the range of savings products available to customers.

The Group expects the net interest margin for the 2015 full year will be around 2.55 per cent.

Excluding St. James’s Place effects, other income in the year was 9 per cent lower at £6,607 million. The reduction was due to lower insurance income which was affected by changes in the pensions and annuities markets, the continued challenging market conditions experienced by the Debt Capital Markets and Financial Markets businesses and lower valuations in the private equity business within Commercial Banking, and the impact of business disposals and the smaller Run-off portfolio. The Group expects other income will be broadly stable in 2015 compared with 2014.

Total costs
   
2014 
 
2013 
 
Change 
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
             
Total costs
 
9,412 
 
9,635 
 
Operating lease depreciation included in costs
 
720 
 
746 
 
Cost:income ratio1
 
51.2% 
 
52.9% 
 
(1.7)pp 
Underlying cost:income ratio2
 
49.8%
 
49.8% 
 
Simplification savings annual run-rate
 
2,042 
 
1,457 
 
40 

1
Excluding income of £662 million and costs of £44 million relating to St. James’s Place in 2013.
2
Excluding St. James’s Place, operating lease depreciation deducted from income and costs and excluding TSB running costs.

Total costs of £9,412 million were 2 per cent lower than in 2013. The reduction was driven by incremental savings from the Simplification programme of £449 million and business disposals of £392 million, partly offset by pay and inflation of £116 million, and increased investment in the business. Total costs excluding TSB running costs in the year were £9,042 million (2013: £9,072 million). Costs in the fourth quarter included the Bank levy of £254 million (2013: £238 million).

The Simplification programme which began in 2011 is now delivering annual run-rate savings of £2 billion, meeting the increased target announced with the 2013 results. In October the Group announced the next phase of the programme and is targeting a cost:income ratio excluding TSB and adjusting for operating lease depreciation of around 45 per cent by the end of 2017 with annual improvements in the ratio in the intervening years.

Impairment
   
2014 
 
2013 
 
Change 
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
             
Impairment charge excluding Run-off
 
997 
 
1,615 
 
38 
Run-off impairment charge
 
203 
 
1,389 
 
85 
Total impairment charge
 
1,200 
 
3,004 
 
60 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.24% 
 
0.57% 
 
(33)bp 
Impaired loans as a % of closing advances
 
2.9%
 
6.3% 
 
(3.4)pp
Provisions as a % of impaired loans
 
56.4%
 
50.1% 
 
6.3pp


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

The impairment charge was £1,200 million, 60 per cent lower than in 2013 as a result of a significant reduction in run-off business and improvements in all divisions. The improvement reflects lower levels of new impairment as a result of effective risk management, improving economic conditions and the continued low interest rate environment. The net charge has also benefited from significant provision releases but at lower levels than seen in 2013. The asset quality ratio in 2014 was 24 basis points. The impairment charge and asset quality ratio in the fourth quarter were £183 million and 15 basis points, respectively.

The Group expects the asset quality ratio for the 2015 full year will be around 30 basis points.

Impaired loans as a percentage of closing advances reduced from 6.3 per cent at the end of December 2013 to 2.9 per cent at the end of December 2014, driven by reductions within both the continuing and the Run-off portfolios. Provisions as a percentage of impaired loans increased from 50.1 per cent to 56.4 per cent.

Statutory profit
Statutory profit before tax was £1,762 million compared to a pre-tax profit of £415 million in 2013. Further information on the reconciliation of underlying to statutory results is included on page 29.

 
2014 
 
2013 
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
         
Underlying profit
 
7,756 
 
6,166 
Asset sales and other items:
       
Asset sales
 
138 
 
(687)
Sale of government securities
 
− 
 
787 
Liability management
 
(1,386)
 
(142)
Own debt volatility
 
398 
 
(221)
Other volatile items
 
(112)
 
(457)
Volatility arising in insurance businesses
 
(228)
 
668 
Fair value unwind
 
(529)
 
(228)
   
(1,719)
 
(280)
Simplification and TSB costs:
       
Simplification costs
 
(966)
 
(830)
TSB build and dual running costs
 
(558)
 
(687)
   
(1,524)
 
(1,517)
Payment Protection Insurance provision
 
(2,200)
 
(3,050)
Other regulatory provisions
 
(925)
 
(405)
         
Other items:
       
Past service pensions credit (charge)
 
710 
 
(104)
Amortisation of purchased intangibles
 
(336)
 
(395)
   
374 
 
(499)
Profit before tax – statutory
 
1,762 
 
415 
Taxation
 
(263)
 
(1,217)
Profit/(loss) for the year
 
1,499 
 
(802)
         
Underlying earnings per share
 
8.1p 
 
6.6p 
Earnings per share
 
1.7p 
 
(1.2)p 
 

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

Asset sales and other items
The net gain from asset sales of £138 million included a gain of £122 million from the sale of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership. In 2013 there was a net loss from asset sales of £687 million and a £787 million gain on the sale of government securities.

The loss for liability management in 2014 of £1,386 million largely related to the Group’s ECN exchange offers completed in the second quarter. This was partly offset by the credit from own debt volatility of £398 million which mainly reflected the change in value of the equity conversion feature of the ECNs.

There was a charge for other volatile items of £112 million (2013: charge of £457 million) relating to the change in fair value of interest rate derivatives and foreign exchange hedges in the banking book not mitigated through hedge accounting.

Negative volatility arising in insurance businesses was £228 million in 2014, principally reflecting lower than expected returns on equity markets and cash investments. This compared to positive insurance volatility of £668 million in 2013 driven by strong equity market performance.

The fair value unwind was a net charge of £529 million compared with a net charge of £228 million in 2013. The charge largely related to the amortisation of fair value adjustments relating to the subordinated debt acquired as part of the HBOS acquisition in 2009.

Simplification and TSB costs
Total Simplification costs in 2014 were £966 million (2013: £830 million). The total spent on Simplification to the end of December 2014 was £2.4 billion with a further £0.2 billion of redundancy costs in 2014 relating to the acceleration of the next phase of the programme. The original programme has delivered annual run-rate savings of £2.0 billion, meeting the increased target announced with the 2013 results. In the next phase of Simplification the Group is targeting a further £1 billion of annual run-rate savings by the end of 2017.

The Group holds 50 per cent of TSB’s ordinary shares. TSB build and dual running costs in the year were £232 million and £326 million, respectively. In 2013 TSB build costs were £687 million.

PPI
The Group increased the provision for expected PPI costs by a further £700 million in the fourth quarter. This brings the amount provided in 2014 to £2,200 million (2013: £3,050 million), and the total amount provided to £12,025 million. Total costs incurred in the fourth quarter were £700 million and as at 31 December 2014, £2,549 million or 21 per cent of the total provision, remained unutilised.

The volume of reactive PPI complaints in 2014 fell by 22 per cent compared with 2013 and by 12 per cent in the fourth quarter. During 2014 there has been a more sustained level of Claims Management Company (CMC) activity and as a result the Group is forecasting a slower decline in future volumes than previously expected. The provision remaining at 31 December 2014 assumes that we will receive a further 0.6 million complaints. This revised forecast of complaint volumes accounts for £1,080 million, approximately half of the additional provision taken in the year and of which £300 million in the fourth quarter. However, the provisions remains sensitive to future trends; as an example, were reactive complaint levels in the first two quarters of 2015 to remain broadly in line with the fourth quarter of 2014 then the revised modelled total complaints and associated administration costs would increase the provision by approximately £700 million.

The Group has mailed the original Past Business Review (PBR) scope of 2.7 million policies as at 31 December 2014. During the year response rates to mailings have been slightly higher than expected, and some limited additional mailing has been added to the scope. This covers £300 million of the provision increase in the year and £45 million in the fourth quarter.


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

The Group has now commenced re-reviewing previously handled cases. During the course of the year the scope of remediation has increased, which combined with higher uphold rates following complaint handling policy changes, has resulted in an additional provision being required of £250 million for the year, of which £140 million was in the fourth quarter.

The Group has also revised its forecast for uphold rates and average redress and increased its estimate for the associated administrative expenses connected with the above which combined have resulted in an increase in the provision of £570 million, of which £215 million was in the fourth quarter.

The total amount provided for PPI represents our best estimate of the likely future costs. The run-rate of spend in the first quarter of 2015 is expected to increase as a result of cash payments for remediation and residual PBR responses. The run-rate of spend in the first half of 2015 overall however, is expected to remain broadly in line with the second half of 2014 as remediation spend reduces. These programmes will be largely complete by mid year, and as a result the Group expects a further reduction in cash outflow in the second half of 2015. However, a number of risks and uncertainties remain in particular in respect of complaint volumes, uphold rates, average redress costs, the cost of proactive mailings and remediation, and the outcome of the FCA Enforcement Team investigation. The cost of these factors could differ materially from our estimates, with the risk that a further provision could be required.

Other regulatory provisions
During 2014 the Group has charged £925 million (2013: £405 million) in respect of other regulatory and conduct related matters of which £425 million was charged in the fourth quarter.

In July 2014, the Group announced that it had reached settlements totalling £217 million (at 30 June 2014 exchange rate) with the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the United States Department of Justice regarding the manipulation several years ago of submissions to the British Bankers’ Association London Interbank Offered Rate and Sterling Repo Rate between May 2006 and 2009, as well as the associated systems and control failings. In addition to these regulatory settlements, the Group paid nearly £8 million to the Bank of England to compensate for fees that were underpaid as a direct consequence of the manipulation of the Sterling Repo Rate in 2008 and 2009. These costs were recognised in the first half.

Further provisions of £150 million have been made relating to the past sale of interest rate hedging products (IRHPs) to certain small and medium-sized businesses of which £100 million was recognised in the fourth quarter. The further provision brings the total amount provided for redress and related administration costs for customers in scope of the agreement with the FCA to £680 million of which £109 million was unutilised at 31 December 2014.

Other provisions also included £120 million recognised in the fourth quarter given the emerging experience relative to expectations for claims relating to policies issued by Clerical Medical Investment Group Limited in Germany, bringing the total provision to £520 million of which £199 million was unutilised at 31 December 2014.

In the course of its business, the Group is engaged in discussions with the PRA, FCA and other UK and overseas regulators and other governmental authorities on a range of matters. The Group also receives complaints and claims from customers in connection with its past conduct, and where significant, provisions are held against the costs expected to be incurred as a result of the conclusions reached. In 2014, the Group made further provisions of £430 million in respect of a number of matters affecting the Retail, Commercial Banking and Consumer Finance divisions, including potential claims and remediation in respect of products sold through the branch network and continuing investigation of matters highlighted through industry wide regulatory reviews, as well as legacy product sales and historical systems and controls such as those governing legacy incentive schemes. Of the additional provision, £205 million was recognised in the fourth quarter. The increase reflected the Group’s assessment of a limited number of matters under discussion, none of which are individually considered financially material in the context of the Group.


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

Other items
The Group made a number of changes to its defined benefit pension scheme arrangements in the first half of the year. These changes and other actions resulted in a £710 million net credit which was recognised in the second quarter.

Taxation
The tax charge for the year to 31 December 2014 was £263 million, representing an effective tax rate of 15 per cent.

The effective tax rate was lower than the UK corporation tax rate largely as a result of tax exempt gains on sales of businesses in the first half and a lower deferred tax liability in respect of the value of in-force assets for the life business partially offset by the effect of non-deductible expenses.

The high tax charge in 2013 was driven by the write down of deferred tax assets following the changes in corporation tax rates and the sale of the Australian business.

In December 2014 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced proposals to restrict to 50 per cent the amount of banks’ profits that can be offset by carried forward tax losses for the purposes of calculating corporation tax liabilities. These proposals are expected to be included in the Finance Bill 2015 and, if passed into law, will take effect in respect of profits arising after 1 April 2015. The Group estimates that these proposals will result in no change to the level of deferred tax recognition although it will increase the period over which it expects to fully utilise its tax losses from 2019 to 2025.

Return on required equity
   
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Change 
Underlying return on required equity
 
13.6% 
 
9.7% 
 
3.9pp 
Statutory return on required equity
 
3.0% 
 
(1.3)% 
 
4.3pp 

Underlying return on equity is calculated as the underlying profit after tax at the standard UK corporation tax rate less the post tax profit attributable to other equity holders divided by the average required equity in the year. Required equity is made up of shareholders’ equity and non-controlling interests and is the amount required to achieve a common equity tier 1 ratio of 12.0 per cent after allowing for regulatory adjustments and deductions. An adjustment is also made to reflect the notional earnings on any excess or shortfall in equity.

Statutory return on required equity is calculated as the statutory profit after tax less the post tax profit attributable to other equity holders divided by the average required equity in the year. An adjustment is also made to reflect the notional earnings on any excess or shortfall in equity.

Both return measures have improved significantly in the year reflecting the strong growth in underlying profit and the return to statutory profit. The Group has a target statutory return on required equity of between 13.5 per cent and 15 per cent by the end of 2017.


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

Capital ratios and risk-weighted assets
   
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Change 
             
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio1,3
 
12.8% 
 
10.3% 
 
2.5pp 
Transitional tier 1 capital ratio1,3
 
16.5% 
 
11.7% 
 
4.8pp 
Transitional total capital ratio1,3
 
22.0% 
 
18.8% 
 
3.2pp 
Leverage ratio2,3
 
4.9% 
 
3.8% 
 
1.1pp 
Risk-weighted assets1,3
 
£240bn 
 
£272bn 
 
(12)% 
             
Shareholders’ equity
 
£43bn 
 
£39bn 
 
11% 

1
Common equity tier 1 ratio is the same on both fully loaded and transitional bases. 31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.
2
Calculated in accordance with the January 2014 revised Basel III leverage ratio framework.
3
31 December 2013 comparatives are reported on a pro forma basis that includes the benefit of the sales of Heidelberger Leben, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and the Group’s 50 per cent stake in Sainsbury’s Bank.

The Group continued to strengthen its capital position, with the common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio increasing to 12.8 per cent (31 December 2013: 10.3 per cent pro forma). The improvement was driven by a combination of underlying profit, further dividends from the Insurance business, changes to and improved valuations of the Group’s defined benefit pension arrangements, and a reduction in risk-weighted assets. The positive effect of these items was partly offset by charges relating to legacy issues which reduced the CET1 ratio by 1.5 per cent, the ECN exchange and tender offers which reduced the ratio by 0.5 per cent and the recommended dividend which reduced the ratio by 0.2 per cent.

The regulatory framework in which the Group operates has continued to evolve following the implementation of the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD IV) on 1 January 2014. The Group’s Pillar 2A requirement at 31 December 2014 was 3.8 per cent of risk-weighted assets of which 2.1 per cent must be covered by CET1 capital. This reflects a point in time estimate by the PRA, which may change over time, of the total capital that is needed in relation to risks that are not covered or fully covered by Pillar 1. The Group is now assuming a steady state CET1 ratio requirement of around 12 per cent.

Risk-weighted assets reduced by 12 per cent, or £32.2 billion, in the year, to £239.7 billion (31 December 2013: £271.9 billion pro forma), primarily due to asset reductions in the Run-off portfolio, active portfolio management in Commercial Banking and improvements in economic conditions.

The Group’s leverage ratio increased to 4.9 per cent from 3.8 per cent (pro forma) in December 2013, with the AT1 issuance in the first half, where the Group repurchased the equivalent of £5 billion nominal (£4 billion regulatory value) of ECNs and issued £5.3 billion of new AT1 securities, accounting for 0.5 per cent of the increase.

The Group’s leverage ratio exceeds the aggregate minimum levels proposed by the Financial Policy Committee (FPC) which require major domestic banks to meet a minimum ratio of 3 per cent, a supplementary systemic risk based buffer of up to 1.05 per cent (to apply from 2016 for G-SIBs and from 2019 for major domestic banks) and a time-varying countercyclical leverage buffer of up to 0.9 per cent (currently set at zero per cent).


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

Stress tests
During the year, the Group was subject to stress testing exercises carried out by both the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the PRA. As announced in October and December respectively, the Group exceeded the capital thresholds set for both these tests and was not required to take any action as a result of these exercises.

The remaining issued Enhanced Capital Notes (ECNs) were not taken into account for the purpose of core capital for the PRA stress test. A Capital Disqualification Event (CDE) occurred allowing the Group, under certain conditions, to redeem, with the permission of the PRA, any series of ECNs. The Group has also indicated its intention to redeem those series of ECNs listed in the announcement, resulting in a reduction in tier 2 capital resources of £0.5 billion.

Funding and liquidity
   
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Change 
             
Loans and advances to customers1
 
£478bn 
 
£493bn 
 
(3)
Loans and advances to customers excluding TSB,
 Run-off and other1
 
£406bn 
 
£402bn 
 
Run-off assets
 
£17bn 
 
£33bn 
 
(49)
Non-retail run-off assets
 
£11bn 
 
£25bn 
 
(57)
Funded assets
 
£493bn 
 
£508bn 
 
(3)
Customer deposits2
 
£447bn 
 
£436bn 
 
Wholesale funding
 
£116bn 
 
£137bn 
 
(15)
Wholesale funding <1 year maturity
 
£41bn 
 
£44bn 
 
(7)
Of which money-market funding <1 year maturity3
 
£19bn 
 
£21bn 
 
(11)
Loan to deposit ratio
 
107% 
 
113% 
 
(6)pp 
Primary liquid assets4
 
£109bn 
 
£89bn 
 
22 

1
Excludes reverse repos of £5.1 billion (31 December 2013: £0.1 billion). Loans and advances comparative restated, see note 1, page 75.
2
Excludes repos of £nil (31 December 2013: £3.0 billion). Deposits comparative restated, see note 1, page 75.
3
Excludes balances relating to margins of £2.8 billion (31 December 2013: £2.3 billion) and settlement accounts of £1.4 billion (31 December 2013: £1.3 billion).
4
Includes off-balance sheet liquid assets; includes TSB £4.5 billion (31 December 2013: £nil).

The Group increased its net lending in key customer segments by 1 per cent with growth of 2 per cent in mortgages (excluding books closed to new business), growth of 5 per cent and 2 per cent in SME and Mid Markets respectively and 17 per cent in the UK consumer finance business. Overall, loans and advances to customers have fallen by 3 per cent to £477.6 billion as the growth in key segments has been more than offset by a reduction in Run-off loans and advances. The Group reduced total Run-off assets by 49 per cent to £16.9 billion.

The growth in deposits, together with the reduction in total loans and advances, resulted in the loan to deposit ratio improving to 107 per cent from 113 per cent at the end of 2013, and has reduced the Group’s wholesale funding requirement. Wholesale funding at 31 December 2014 was £116.5 billion, with 65 per cent having a maturity of greater than one year.

The Group’s liquidity position remains strong, with primary liquid assets of £109.3 billion (31 December 2013: £89.3 billion). Primary liquid assets represent almost six times our money-market funding with a maturity of less than one year, and just under three times our total short-term wholesale funding, in turn providing a substantial buffer in the event of market dislocation. In addition to primary liquid assets, the Group has significant secondary liquidity holdings of £99.2 billion (31 December 2013: £105.4 billion). Total liquid assets represent approximately five times our short-term wholesale funding with primary liquid assets broadly equivalent to total wholesale funding.

Based on the Group’s current understanding of the LCR standards due to be implemented in October 2015, the Group believes that it met the upcoming requirements as at 31 December 2014.


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (continued)

Dividend
The Board has recommended a dividend of 0.75 pence per ordinary share in respect of 2014, amounting to £535 million. The Group’s aim is to have a progressive dividend policy, with dividends starting at a modest level and increasing over the medium term to a dividend payout ratio of at least 50 per cent of sustainable earnings. Subject to performance, the intention is to pay an interim and final dividend for 2015.

Conclusion
The Group has delivered a strong underlying performance and a statutory profit after tax of £1.5 billion in 2014 despite recognising further PPI and other regulatory provisions. At the same time, the Group has continued to reduce balance sheet risk, with significantly improved credit quality supported by a further £16 billion reduction in the Run-off portfolio. These achievements have helped strengthen the Group’s funding position, key capital and leverage ratios and enabled the Board to recommend a dividend in respect of 2014.

George Culmer
Chief Financial Officer

 
UNDERLYING BASIS SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

2014
 
Retail 
Commercial  Banking 
Consumer  Finance 
 
Insurance 
 
Run-off 
and 
Central 
items 
 
TSB1
 
Group 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                             
Net interest income
 
7,079 
 
2,480 
 
1,290 
 
(131)
 
257 
 
786 
 
11,761 
Other income
 
1,212 
 
1,956 
 
1,364 
 
1,725 
 
210 
 
140 
 
6,607 
Total income
 
8,291 
 
4,436 
 
2,654 
 
1,594 
 
467 
 
926 
 
18,368 
Total costs
 
(4,464)
 
(2,147)
 
(1,429)
 
(672)
 
(330)
 
(370)
 
(9,412)
Impairment
 
(599)
 
(83)
 
(215)
 
− 
 
(205)
 
(98)
 
(1,200)
Underlying profit (loss)
 
3,228 
 
2,206 
 
1,010 
 
922 
 
(68)
 
458 
 
7,756 
                             
Banking net interest margin
 
2.29% 
 
2.67% 
 
6.49% 
             
2.45% 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.19% 
 
0.08% 
 
1.05% 
             
0.24% 
Return on risk-weighted assets
 
4.60% 
 
1.92% 
 
4.87% 
             
3.02% 
Return on assets
 
1.02% 
 
0.94% 
 
4.02% 
             
0.92% 
                             
Key balance sheet items
at 31 December 2014
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
     
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
                             
Loans and advances to customers
 
315.2 
 
100.9 
 
20.9 
     
19.0 
 
21.6 
 
477.6 
Customer deposits
 
285.5 
 
119.9 
 
15.0 
     
2.1 
 
24.6 
 
447.1 
Total customer balances2
 
600.7 
 
220.8 
 
39.0 
     
21.1 
 
46.2 
 
927.8 
                             
Risk-weighted assets
 
67.7 
 
106.2 
 
20.9 
     
39.7 
 
5.2 
 
239.7 
 

20133   £m   £m   £m   £m   £m   £m   £m  
                               
Net interest income
 
6,500 
 
2,113 
 
1,333 
 
(107)
 
431 
 
615 
 
10,885 
 
Other income
 
1,435 
 
2,259 
 
1,359 
 
1,864 
 
840 
 
163 
 
7,920 
 
Total income
 
7,935 
 
4,372 
 
2,692 
 
1,757 
 
1,271 
 
778 
 
18,805 
 
Total costs
 
(4,160)
 
(2,084)
 
(1,384)
 
(669)
 
(775)
 
(563)
 
(9,635)
 
Impairment
 
(760)
 
(398)
 
(343)
 
− 
 
(1,394)
 
(109)
 
(3,004)
 
Underlying profit (loss)
 
3,015 
 
1,890 
 
965 
 
1,088 
 
(898)
 
106 
 
6,166 
 
                               
Banking net interest margin
 
2.09% 
 
2.21% 
 
6.94% 
             
2.12% 
 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.24% 
 
0.37% 
 
1.76% 
             
0.57% 
 
Return on risk-weighted assets
 
3.81% 
 
1.53% 
 
4.51% 
             
2.14% 
 
Return on assets
 
0.95% 
 
0.77% 
 
3.90% 
             
0.70% 
 
                               
Key balance sheet items
at 31 December 2013
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
     
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
                               
Loans and advances to customers
 
314.3 
 
105.7 
 
19.1 
     
30.3 
 
23.5 
 
492.9 
 
Customer deposits
 
283.2 
 
108.7 
 
18.7 
     
2.8 
 
23.1 
 
436.5 
 
Total customer balances2
 
597.5 
 
214.4 
 
40.6 
     
33.1 
 
46.6 
 
932.2 
 
                               
Risk-weighted assets4
 
72.9 
 
124.0 
 
20.1 
     
48.5 
 
5.6 
 
271.1 
 

1
See note 5, page 82.
2
Total customer balances include loans and advances to customers, customer deposit balances and Consumer Finance operating lease assets.
3
Segment information has been restated to reflect the changes made to the Group’s operating structure that came into effect from 1 January 2014. Loans and advances to customers and customer deposits have been restated, see note 1, page 75.
4
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules on a fully loaded basis as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.


UNDERLYING BASIS QUARTERLY INFORMATION

   
Quarter 
ended 
31 Dec 
2014 
 
Quarter 
ended 
30 Sept 
2014 
 
Quarter 
ended 
30 June 
2014 
 
Quarter 
ended 
31 Mar 
2014 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
Net interest income
 
2,923 
 
3,034 
 
2,993 
 
2,811 
Other income
 
1,547 
 
1,612 
 
1,730 
 
1,718 
Total income
 
4,470 
 
4,646 
 
4,723 
 
4,529 
Total costs
 
(2,505)
 
(2,232)
 
(2,377)
 
(2,298)
Impairment
 
(183)
 
(259)
 
(327)
 
(431)
Underlying profit
 
1,782 
 
2,155 
 
2,019 
 
1,800 
Asset sales and other items
 
34 
 
(186)
 
(1,687)
 
120 
Simplification and TSB costs
 
(460)
 
(236)
 
(362)
 
(466)
PPI
 
(700)
 
(900)
 
(600)
 
− 
Other regulatory provisions
 
(425)
 
− 
 
(500)
 
− 
Other items
 
(83)
 
(82)
 
624 
 
(85)
Statutory profit (loss)
 
148 
 
751 
 
(506)
 
1,369 
                 
Banking net interest margin
 
2.47% 
 
2.51% 
 
2.48% 
 
2.32% 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.15% 
 
0.20% 
 
0.26% 
 
0.35% 
Cost:income ratio
 
56.0% 
 
48.0% 
 
50.3% 
 
50.7% 
Return on risk-weighted assets
 
2.89% 
 
3.37% 
 
3.09% 
 
2.71% 
Return on assets
 
0.83% 
 
1.01% 
 
0.97% 
 
0.87% 

   
Quarter 
ended 
31 Dec 
2013 
 
Quarter 
ended 
30 Sept 
2013 
 
Quarter 
ended 
30 June 
2013 
 
Quarter 
ended 
31 Mar 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
Net interest income
 
2,918 
 
2,761 
 
2,653 
 
2,552 
Other income
 
1,754 
 
1,776 
 
1,872 
 
1,857 
St. James’s Place
 
114 
 
18 
 
50 
 
480 
Total income
 
4,786 
 
4,555 
 
4,575 
 
4,889 
Total costs
 
(2,525)
 
(2,361)
 
(2,341)
 
(2,408)
Impairment
 
(521)
 
(670)
 
(811)
 
(1,002)
Underlying profit
 
1,740 
 
1,524 
 
1,423 
 
1,479 
Asset sales and other items
 
(468)
 
(709)
 
(176)
 
1,073 
Simplification and TSB costs
 
(323)
 
(408)
 
(377)
 
(409)
PPI
 
(1,800)
 
(750)
 
(500)
 
− 
Other regulatory provisions
 
(330)
 
− 
 
(75)
 
− 
Other items
 
(98)
 
(97)
 
(201)
 
(103)
Statutory (loss) profit
 
(1,279)
 
(440)
 
94 
 
2,040 
                 
Banking net interest margin
 
2.29% 
 
2.17% 
 
2.06% 
 
1.96% 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.40% 
 
0.51% 
 
0.57% 
 
0.80% 
Cost:income ratio1
 
54.0% 
 
52.0% 
 
51.7% 
 
53.6% 
Return on risk-weighted assets
 
2.55% 
 
2.14% 
 
1.93% 
 
1.96% 
Return on assets
 
0.81% 
 
0.69% 
 
0.65% 
 
0.66% 

1
Excluding impact of St. James’s Place.

 
DIVISIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

RETAIL

Retail offers a broad range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, personal loans and mortgages, to UK personal customers, including Wealth and small business customers. It is also a distributor of insurance, protection and credit cards, and a range of long-term savings and investment products. Retail’s aim is to be the best bank for customers in the UK, by building deep and enduring relationships that deliver value to customers, and by providing them with greater choice and flexibility. Retail will maintain its multi-brand and multi-channel strategy, and continue to simplify the business and provide more transparent products, helping to improve service levels and reduce conduct risks.

 
Progress against strategic initiatives
·  
Continued development of its digital capability, with the launch of its new App and the optimisation of browser sites for mobile users. The online user base has increased to over 10.4 million customers, including more than 5 million active mobile users, an increase of 29 per cent from 2013.
·  
Increased Net Promoter Scores across all channels in 2014.
·  
Continued to attract new customers through positive switching activity, particularly through the Halifax challenger brand which has attracted around 250,000 customers in 2014.
·  
Launch of a number of new products, including the Club Lloyds current account proposition which has attracted over 600,000 customers since launch, and the Club Lloyds Saver and Monthly Saver Accounts.
·  
Launched two new unsecured lending products, enhancing account flexibility and online functionality.
·  
Announced the simplification of the existing savings products range, which will lead to the consolidation of 47 accounts into three standard products.
·  
Achieved £40 billion of gross new mortgage lending in 2014, providing 1 in 5 of all mortgage loans to customers buying their homes in the UK. Exceeded our lending commitment to first-time buyers, lending £11.9 billion to over 89,000 customers, providing 1 in 4 of all mortgages. Retail continues to be a leading supporter of the UK government’s Help to Buy scheme, lending £1.9 billion in 2014.
·  
Improved proposition to small business customers through the launch of a new mobile App, online account opening and online lending and successfully transferred 120,000 customers onto a new multi-channel model in Retail. Exceeded its lending commitment by supporting over 100,000 new business start-ups.

 
Financial performance
·  
Underlying profit increased 7 per cent to £3,228 million.
·  
Net interest income increased 9 per cent. Margin increased 20 basis points to 2.29 per cent, driven by improved deposit mix and margin, more than offsetting reduced lending rates.
·  
Other income down 16 per cent, with lower protection income partly due to the decision to close the face-to-face advised protection role in branches, and lower wealth related income due to regulatory changes.
·  
Total costs increased 7 per cent to £4,464 million, reflecting higher indirect overheads previously absorbed in the TSB segment and costs associated with ongoing investment in the business.
·  
Impairment reduced 21 per cent to £599 million, with unsecured charges decreasing consistent with lower impaired loan and arrears balances. Secured coverage strengthened to 37 per cent, resulting in a 13 per cent increase to the impairment charge.
·  
Return on risk-weighted assets increased 79 basis points driven by 7 per cent increase in underlying profit and reduced risk-weighted assets.

 
Balance sheet
·  
Loans and advances to customers increased slightly to £315.2 billion, with stronger growth of 2 per cent in the open mortgage book (excludes closed specialist book and Intelligent Finance).
·  
Customer deposits increased 1 per cent to £285.5 billion, with relationship balances (including Lloyds, Halifax and BoS) up 4 per cent year-on-year.
·  
Risk-weighted assets decreased by £5.2 billion to £67.7 billion driven by an improvement in the credit quality of retail assets and improving house prices.

RETAIL (continued)

   
2014 
 
20131
 
Change 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
             
Net interest income
 
7,079 
 
6,500 
 
Other income
 
1,212 
 
1,435 
 
(16)
Total income
 
8,291 
 
7,935 
 
Total costs
 
(4,464)
 
(4,160)
 
(7)
Impairment
 
(599)
 
(760)
 
21 
Underlying profit
 
3,228 
 
3,015 
 
             
Banking net interest margin
 
2.29% 
 
2.09% 
 
20bp 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.19% 
 
0.24% 
 
(5)bp 
Return on risk-weighted assets
 
4.60% 
 
3.81% 
 
79bp 
Return on assets
 
1.02% 
 
0.95% 
 
7bp 


Key balance sheet items
 
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Change 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
             
Loans and advances excluding closed portfolios
 
284.7 
 
280.4 
 
Closed portfolios
 
30.5 
 
33.9 
 
(10)
Loans and advances to customers
 
315.2 
 
314.3 
 
− 
             
Relationship balances
 
247.9 
 
238.4 
 
Tactical balances
 
37.6 
 
44.8 
 
(16)
Customer deposits
 
285.5 
 
283.2 
 
Customer deposits
 
285.5 
 
283.2 
 
Total customer balances
 
600.7 
 
597.5 
 
             
Risk-weighted assets2
 
67.7 
 
72.9 
 
(7)

1
Restated to reflect the changes to the Group operating structure that came into effect from 1 January 2014.
2
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.

COMMERCIAL BANKING

Commercial Banking supports UK businesses from SMEs to large corporates and financial institutions. It has a client led, low risk strategy targeting sustainable returns on risk-weighted assets above 2 per cent by the end of 2015 and 2.4 per cent by the end of 2017, whilst simplifying operating processes, building digital capability and maintaining capital discipline. Commercial Banking aims to be the best bank for clients delivering a through-the-cycle relationship approach that provides affordable, simple and transparent finance, as well as support for complex needs and access to Government funding schemes.

 
Progress against strategic initiatives
·  
Continued its support of SMEs, growing lending by 5 per cent in a contracting market. Its network of local and key markets relationship managers enables a quick response to the needs of the significant client base.
·  
Strengthened the capabilities and increased the number of relationship managers in Mid Markets, resulting in an increase in client numbers, particularly in the local authority, business services and education sectors.
·  
Enhanced returns in Global Corporates as a result of continued capital optimisation and increased profitability due to resilient income performance in challenging market conditions.
·  
Further developed the Financial Institutions franchise, meeting a broader range of client needs, delivering growth in income and profitability whilst supporting financial services in the UK
·  
Continued to invest in digital capability, with CB Online launching in 2015 and the continued development of mobile services to clients.
·  
Continued to help Britain prosper; committing over £15.5 billion of UK lending through Funding for Lending, over £1 billion of funding support to UK manufacturing. In line with the Group’s focus on sustainability and responsible lending Commercial Banking became the first UK bank to issue an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) bond. The Debt Capital Markets team also pioneered market leading product innovation with the first green loan and first ESG bond for a housing association.
·  
Its community based actions include the Enterprise Mentoring scheme, with over 400 Group colleagues now trained as Enterprise Mentors, providing support to over 700 SME businesses to date.

 
Financial performance
·  
Underlying profit of £2,206 million, up 17 per cent on 2013, driven by strong income growth in SME, Mid Markets and Financial Institutions and lower impairments.
·  
Income increased by 1 per cent to £4,436 million as a result of increased net interest income in all client segments offset by declining performance in other income reflecting challenging market conditions and lower income from Lloyds Development Capital.
·  
Net interest margin increased by 46 basis points to 2.67 per cent as a result of disciplined pricing of new lending, customer repricing in deposits and a reduction in funding costs helped by the increase in Global Transaction Banking deposits.
·  
Other income decreased 13 per cent driven by lower client income in Debt Capital Markets and Financial Markets due to the continued low interest rate and low volatility environment in 2014 and a lower level of revaluation gains in Lloyds Development Capital.
·  
Asset quality ratio of 8 basis points improved by 29 basis points reflecting lower gross charges, improved credit quality and progress in executing its strategy of building a low risk commercial bank.
·  
Return on risk-weighted assets increased by 39 basis points to 1.92 per cent, making good progress towards achieving its 2015 target of 2 per cent by the end of 2015.

 
Balance sheet
·  
Lending decreased by 5 per cent as a result of selective participation in Global Corporates partially offset by growth in SME and Financial Institutions.
·  
Customer deposits increased by 10 per cent with Global Transaction Banking balances growing year-on-year in all client segments.
·  
Risk-weighted assets decreased by £17.8 billion with reductions in credit and market risk-weighted assets as a result of active portfolio management, including reductions in Global Corporates reflecting the successful progress on improving returns.


COMMERCIAL BANKING (continued)

   
2014 
 
20131
 
Change 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
             
Net interest income
 
2,480 
 
2,113 
 
17 
Other income
 
1,956 
 
2,259 
 
(13)
Total income
 
4,436 
 
4,372 
 
Total costs
 
(2,147)
 
(2,084)
 
(3)
Impairment
 
(83)
 
(398)
 
79 
Underlying profit
 
2,206 
 
1,890 
 
17 
             
Banking net interest margin
 
2.67% 
 
2.21% 
 
46bp 
Asset quality ratio
 
0.08% 
 
0.37% 
 
(29)bp 
Return on risk-weighted assets
 
1.92% 
 
1.53% 
 
39bp 
Return on assets
 
0.94% 
 
0.77% 
 
17bp 


Key balance sheet items
 
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
20131
 
Change 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
             
SME
 
27.9 
 
26.6 
 
Other
 
73.0 
 
79.1 
 
(8)
Loans and advances to customers
 
100.9 
 
105.7 
 
(5)
             
Customer deposits
 
119.9 
 
108.7 
 
10 
             
Total customer balances
 
220.8 
 
214.4 
 
             
Risk-weighted assets2
 
106.2 
 
124.0 
 
(14)

1
Restated to reflect the changes to the Group operating structure that came into effect from 1 January 2014. Loans and advances to customers and customer deposits have been restated, see note 1, page 75.
2
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.

 
CONSUMER FINANCE

Consumer Finance aims to extend its market leadership in Asset Finance by building its digital capability and creating new propositions in both the Black Horse and Lex Autolease businesses. In Credit Cards, better use will be made of Group customer relationships and insight to seek growth within its current risk profile from both franchise and
non-franchise customers.

 
Progress against strategic initiatives
·  
UK loan growth of 17 per cent year-on-year, increasing momentum from the first half of 2014.
·  
New business growth of 48 per cent within Black Horse, supported by the launch of the Jaguar Land Rover partnership in the first quarter of 2014 and strong underlying business performance.
·  
Growth of 23 per cent in new Lex Autolease fleet deliveries with leads from the franchise more than double 2013.
·  
Growth in lending balances within Credit Cards for the first time in eight years.
·  
Growth in new consumer credit cards including a 4 per cent increase in new accounts opened and a 15 per cent increase in balance transfer volumes from new and existing customers.
·  
Net gainer in balance transfers compared to competitors in Credit Cards new business, leveraging the breadth of the product lines, brands, and channels, and making strong progress in building  non-franchise capabilities.
·  
Growth of 45 per cent in transaction volumes within the Cardnet Acquiring Solutions business, driven in part by new partnerships, in addition to increased activity from existing customers.
·  
Successful implementation of initial regulatory changes following change of regulator from the Office of Fair Trading to the Financial Conduct Authority.

 
Financial performance
·  
Underlying profit increased by 5 per cent to £1,010 million driven by significant reductions in impairment charges across the portfolio and income growth in Asset Finance, partially offset by a fall in income in Credit Cards and investing for future growth in the businesses.
·  
Net interest margin reduced by 45 basis points to 6.49 per cent, resulting in a 3 per cent fall in net interest income to £1,290 million. Strong new business growth and deposit repricing have been offset by a change in mix towards higher quality, lower margin lending to the new vehicle market and the impact of the current year’s strategic focus on growing the volume of new credit cards. Consistent with the strategy of acquiring high quality new business, the asset quality ratio improved by 71 basis points.
·  
Other income increased slightly as a result of the growth strategy.
·  
Total costs increased by 3 per cent driven by investment in growth initiatives and increased operating lease depreciation as a result of growth in the Lex Autolease fleet, offset by cost savings and increased gains for end of life lease asset sales. In 2014 a further £45 million was invested in improving propositions and customer’s digital experience.
·  
Impairment charges reduced by 37 per cent to £215 million, with a substantial improvement in the asset quality ratio. This has been driven by a continued underlying improvement of portfolio quality supported by the sale of recoveries assets in the Credit Cards and Asset Finance portfolios.
·  
Return on risk-weighted assets increased to 4.87 per cent. This reflected a 5 per cent improvement in underlying profit, while risk-weighted assets increased by only 4 per cent driven by increased customer assets partially offset by an improved credit risk profile of customers.

Balance sheet
·  
Net lending increased by 9 per cent to £20.9 billion driven by growth across both the underlying and the Jaguar Land Rover portfolios within UK Asset Finance where net lending increased by 43 per cent, and within Credit Cards following eight years of decline where net lending increased by 2 per cent. Balances in the European businesses were down 9 per cent, driven largely by foreign exchange rate movements.
·  
Operating lease assets increased by 11 per cent to £3.1 billion reflecting Lex Autolease fleet growth of 7 per cent.
·  
Customer deposits reduced by 20 per cent within Online Deposits driven by deposit re-pricing activity in response to European Central Bank policy actions and foreign exchange rate movements.
·  
Risk-weighted assets increased by 4 per cent.

CONSUMER FINANCE (continued)

   
2014 
 
20131
 
Change 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
             
Net interest income
 
1,290 
 
1,333 
 
(3)
Other income
 
1,364 
 
1,359 
 
− 
Total income
 
2,654 
 
2,692 
 
(1)
Total costs
 
(1,429)
 
(1,384)
 
(3)
Of which operating lease depreciation
 
(667)
 
(653)
 
(2)
Impairment
 
(215)
 
(343)
 
37 
Underlying profit
 
1,010 
 
965 
 
             
Banking net interest margin
 
6.49% 
 
6.94% 
 
(45)bp 
Asset quality ratio
 
1.05% 
 
1.76% 
 
(71)bp 
Impaired loans as % of closing advances
 
3.4% 
 
4.8% 
 
(140)bp 
Return on risk-weighted assets
 
4.87% 
 
4.51% 
 
36bp 
Return on assets
 
4.02% 
 
3.90% 
 
12bp 

Key balance sheet items
 
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Change 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
             
Loans and advances to customers
 
20.9 
 
19.1 
 
Of which UK
 
16.0 
 
13.7 
 
17 
Operating lease assets
 
3.1 
 
2.8 
 
11 
Total customer assets
 
24.0 
 
21.9 
 
10 
Of which UK
 
19.1 
 
16.5 
 
16 
             
Customer deposits
 
15.0 
 
18.7 
 
(20)
             
Total customer balances
 
39.0 
 
40.6 
 
(4)
             
Risk-weighted assets2
 
20.9 
 
20.1 
 

1
Restated to reflect the changes to the Group operating structure that came into effect from 1 January 2014.
2
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.
 
 
INSURANCE

The Insurance division is focused on helping customers protect themselves today whilst preparing for a secure financial future.  The division provides a range of simple, trusted, value for money insurance, protection and retirement products to Retail and Corporate customers, primarily through the Bank and Intermediary networks.

 
Progress against strategic initiatives
·  
Insurance is a market leader in the corporate pensions market serving over 11,500 employers (including 19 per cent of the FTSE 350) and 1.4 million employees with £27 billion of assets invested with us. In 2014 the number of employees covered by these schemes grew by 40 per cent principally reflecting the ongoing support for employers through the auto-enrolment process.
·  
The roll out of the Pensions Freedoms legislation in 2015 presents a significant opportunity to help customers with their retirement planning needs and a range of products to support this is being developed.  With access to 24 million Retail customers, the Group remains very well placed to participate in this market.
·  
Re-launched the Scottish Widows brand in 2014 and increased investment in strategic initiatives specifically in digital and mobile solutions, demonstrating the Group’s commitment to being a leader in the changing market.
·  
In 2014 the underwriting of the Home insurance direct channel business was brought in-house offering all customers access to the first class claims service we provide. Investment is being made in the Group’s direct digital capability with the aim of increasing market share in General Insurance and responding to changes in the way customers buy General Insurance, moving more towards online distribution channels.
·  
Continued commitment to supporting customer protection needs, with focus now on the sale of our standalone protection products through investment in digital solutions and in the Independent Financial Adviser distribution channel alongside continued in-branch protection advice for mortgage applications. In recognition of the change in consumer focus, the Group withdrew standalone protection advice through Retail branches in November.
·  
Completion of the sale of Heidelberger Leben and Scottish Widows Investment Partnership helped simplify the Insurance business, allowing increased focus on the remaining core business.

Financial performance
·  
Resilient performance against a backdrop of significant change throughout the industry in 2014.
·  
Operating cash generation increased by £55 million, to £737 million, primarily reflecting lower commission paid on corporate pensions and increased returns on shareholder free assets offset by reduced General Insurance premiums.
·  
Underlying profit down 15 per cent to £922 million impacted by the cost of structural changes in the corporate pensions book, primarily the cap on pension charges, and lower life new business and General Insurance premiums offset by improved economics and an increase in yields on assets backing annuity business as a result of the strategy to invest in long-term, low risk, higher yielding assets.
·  
A 10 per cent increase in corporate funds under management has driven a £3 billion increase in unit linked pension funds under management to £79 billion.
·  
LP&I sales (PVNBP) reduced by 13 per cent in the year with sales of auto enrolment corporate pension business higher than expected but more than offset by an overall reduction in sales in 2014 following the Retail Distribution Review.
·  
General Insurance Gross Written Premiums (GWP) down 8 per cent, reflecting the run off of legacy products and a competitive market during 2014.

Capital
·  
Remitted £1.0 billion of dividends to the Group in 2014 (2013: £2.2 billion), including the £0.3 billion of Heidelberger Leben sale proceeds, whilst maintaining a strong capital base.
·  
Estimated capital surplus for Pillar 1 is £2.3 billion (Scottish Widows plc, £2.7 billion in 2013) and for Insurance Groups Directive is £3.0 billion (Insurance Group, £2.9 billion in 2013) with the decrease in Pillar 1 reflecting the dividends paid over the period.


INSURANCE (continued)

Performance summary
   
2014 
 
20131
 
Change 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
             
Net interest income
 
(131)
 
(107)
 
(22)
Other income
 
2,054
 
2,220 
 
(7)
Insurance claims
 
(329)
 
(356)
 
Total income
 
1,594 
 
1,757 
 
(9)
Total costs
 
(672)
 
(669)
 
− 
Underlying profit
 
922 
 
1,088 
 
(15)
             
Operating cash generation
 
737 
 
682 
 
UK LP&I sales (PVNBP)2
 
8,601 
 
9,934 
 
(13)
General Insurance total GWP
 
1,197 
 
1,307 
 
(8)
General Insurance combined ratio
 
76% 
 
77% 
 
(1)pp 

1
Restated to reflect changes to the Group operating structure that came into effect from 1 January 2014.
2
Present value of new business premiums.

Profit by product group

 
2014
 
2013
 
Pensions & 
investments 
Protection 
& retirement1
General 
Insurance 
 
Other2
 
Total 
 
 
Total 
 
£m 
£m 
£m 
£m 
£m
 
£m 
New business income
189 
74 
− 
268 
 
423 
Existing business income
658 
120 
− 
114 
892 
 
807 
Assumption changes and experience variances
(219)
277 
− 
(24)
34 
 
70 
General Insurance income net
of claims
− 
− 
400 
− 
400 
 
457 
Total income
628 
471 
400 
95 
1,594 
 
1,757 
Total costs
(381)
(127)
(144)
(20)
(672)
 
(669)
Underlying profit 2014
247 
344 
256 
75 
922 
 
1,088 
               
Underlying profit 20133
357 
445 
297 
(11)
1,088
   
 
1
Retirement assumption changes and experience variances include the benefit of acquiring, from Commercial Banking, £1.7 billion of loans during 2014; bringing total social housing, infrastructure and education acquired loans to £3.9 billion.
 
 
2
’Other’ is primarily income from return on free assets, interest expense, certain provisions plus a small element of European business.
 
 
3
Full 2013 comparator tables for the profit and cash disclosures can be found on the Lloyds Banking Group investor site.
 

The new business income of £268 million includes a reduction in pensions new business income due to lower volumes relative to the spike in 2013 sales as pre-Retail Distribution Review sales completed. In calculating new business income on auto-enrolment schemes, allowance has been made for low initial contribution levels and does not include future automatic increases in contribution levels. These increases will be reported in future years. In addition Protection & retirement new business income has reduced following the 2014 Budget announcement which led to industry wide reductions in annuities volumes following changes to the freedoms consumers have in accessing their pension savings.


INSURANCE (continued)

Existing business income has increased by £85 million reflecting improved economics benefiting the life and pensions business.

Assumption changes and experience variances include, within Protection and retirement, the benefits arising from the acquisition of attractive higher yielding assets to match long duration annuity liabilities and benefits from assumption changes. This has been offset by assumption changes within the existing Pensions and investments book including actions being taken to prepare for the structural changes arising from the DWP’s announcement, which introduced a cap on pension charges. These changes to corporate pensions will ensure that future new business is less capital intensive.

General Insurance profit has fallen by £41 million, due to the continued run-off of legacy books and the impact of storms during the first quarter, offset by good prior year experience. During the year underwriting of the Home Insurance business was brought in-house, ensuring delivery of a first class service to all our customers and continued sustainable growth in the underwritten customer base. Excellent technical capabilities and scale have enabled Insurance to respond to competitive pressures and a number of severe weather events in the early part of 2014, and maintain a strong combined ratio.

Operating cash generation
 
 
2014
2013
 
 
Pensions & 
investments
Protection & 
retirement 
General 
Insurance 
 
Other1
 
Total 
 
Total 
 
£m 
£m 
£m 
£m 
£m
£m 
             
Cash invested in new business
(238)
(38)
− 
(12)
(288)
(270)
Cash generated from existing business
452 
177 
− 
140 
769 
655 
Cash generated from General Insurance
− 
− 
256 
− 
256 
297 
Operating cash generation
214 
139 
256 
128 
737 
682 
Intangibles and other adjustments2
33 
205 
− 
(53)
185 
406 
Underlying profit
247 
344 
256 
75 
922 
1,088 
             
Operating cash generation 2013
224
136 
297 
25 
682 
 

1
Derived from IFRS underlying profit by removing the effect of movements in intangible (non-cash) items and assumption changes.
2
Intangible items include the value of in-force life business, deferred acquisition costs and deferred income reserves.
 

The Insurance business generated £737 million of operating cash in 2014, £55 million higher than the prior year. The growth in cash generated from existing business resulted from increased yields on assets backing the annuity business and increased returns on shareholder free assets. In Pensions and investments, cash invested in new business has reduced due to lower volumes of corporate and individual pensions and reduced commission costs, partially offset by increased reserves for auto-enrolment business (these reserves are expected to unwind over the next few years as contribution levels increase). In Protection and retirement, cash invested in new business is greater than 2013, reflecting lower profitability of standard annuities.


RUN-OFF AND CENTRAL ITEMS

RUN-OFF

   
2014 
 
20131
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Net interest income
 
(116)
 
138 
Other income
 
451 
 
1,266 
Total income
 
335 
 
1,404 
Total costs
 
(308)
 
(726)
Impairment
 
(203)
 
(1,389)
Underlying loss
 
(176)
 
(711)
         
Total income excluding St. James’s Place
 
335 
 
742 
Underlying loss excluding St. James’s Place
 
(176)
 
(1,329)

   
2014 
 
20131
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
         
Loans and advances to customers
 
14.4 
 
27.7 
Total assets
 
16.9 
 
33.3 
         
Risk-weighted assets2
 
16.8 
 
30.6 

1
Restated to reflect the changes to the Group operating structure that came into effect from 1 January 2014.
2
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.

·  
Run-off includes certain assets previously classified as non-core and the results and gains or losses on sale of businesses sold in 2013 and 2014.
·  
The reduction in income and costs largely related to the sales of St. James’s Place in 2013 and Scottish Widows Investment Partnership in the first quarter of 2014.
·  
The reduction in the impairment charge reflects continued proactive risk management and the success in managing down the Run-off portfolios.

CENTRAL ITEMS

   
2014 
 
20131
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Total income (expense)
 
132 
 
(133)
Total costs
 
(22)
 
(49)
Impairment
 
(2)
 
(5)
Underlying profit/(loss)
 
108 
 
(187)

1
Restated.

·  
Central items include income and expenditure not recharged to divisions, including the costs of certain central and head office functions.
·  
Underlying income in 2014 included the benefit relating to the reduction in interest payable following the ECN exchange in the second quarter, which has not been passed onto divisions.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1.         Reconciliation between statutory and underlying basis results

The tables below set out the reconciliation from the statutory results to the underlying basis results, the principles of which are set out on the inside front cover.

 
     
Removal of:
 
   
Lloyds 
Banking 
Group 
statutory 
 
Acquisition  
related and  
other items
 
Volatility  
arising in  
insurance  
businesses  
 
Insurance  
gross up  
 
PPI  
and other  
regulatory  
provisions
 
Fair value  
unwind  
 
                Underlying 
                           basis 
2014
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
                               
Net interest income
 
10,660 
 
(7)
 
− 
 
482 
 
− 
 
626 
 
11,761 
 
Other income, net of insurance claims
 
5,739 
 
1,141 
 
228 
 
(614)
 
− 
 
113 
 
6,607 
 
Total income
 
16,399 
 
1,134 
 
228 
 
(132)
 
− 
 
739 
 
18,368 
 
Operating expenses3
 
(13,885)
 
1,175 
 
− 
 
132 
 
3,125 
 
41 
 
(9,412)
 
Impairment
 
(752)
 
(197)
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
(251)
 
(1,200)
 
Profit (loss)
 
1,762 
 
2,112 
 
228 
 
− 
 
3,125 
 
529 
 
7,756 
 

     
Removal of:
 
   
Lloyds 
Banking 
Group 
statutory 
 
Acquisition  
related and  
other items
 
Volatility  
arising in  
insurance  
businesses  
 
Insurance  
gross up  
 
PPI 
and other  
regulatory  
provisions
 
Fair value  
unwind  
 
              Underlying 
                          basis 
2013
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
                               
Net interest income
 
7,338 
 
(14)
 
– 
 
2,930 
 
– 
 
631 
 
10,885 
 
Other income, net of insurance claims
 
11,140 
 
460 
 
(668)
 
(3,074)
 
– 
 
62 
 
7,920 
 
Total income
 
18,478 
 
446 
 
(668)
 
(144)
 
– 
 
693 
 
18,805 
 
Operating expenses3
 
(15,322)
 
2,041 
 
– 
 
144 
 
3,455 
 
47 
 
(9,635)
 
Impairment
 
(2,741)
 
249 
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(512)
 
(3,004)
 
Profit (loss)
 
415 
 
2,736 
 
(668)
 
– 
 
3,455 
 
228 
 
6,166 
 

1
Comprises the effects of asset sales (gain of £138 million), volatile items (gain of £286 million), liability management (loss of £1,386 million), Simplification costs related to severance, IT and business costs of implementation (£966 million), TSB build and dual running costs (£558 million), the past service pensions credit (£710 million) and the amortisation of purchased intangibles (£336 million).
2
Comprises the payment protection insurance provision of £2,200 million (2013: £3,050 million) and other regulatory provisions of £925 million (2013: £405 million).
3
On an underlying basis, this is described as total costs.
4
Comprises the effects of asset sales (gain of £100 million), volatile items (loss of £678 million), liability management (loss of £142 million), Simplification costs (£830 million), TSB build and dual running costs (£687 million), the past service pensions charge  (£104 million) and the amortisation of purchased intangibles (£395 million).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (continued)

2.
Banking net interest margin

Banking net interest margin is calculated by dividing banking net interest income by average interest-earning banking assets. A reconciliation of banking net interest income to Group net interest income showing the items that are excluded in determining banking net interest income follows:

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Banking net interest income – underlying basis
 
11,845 
 
10,841 
Insurance division
 
(131)
 
(107)
Other net interest income (including trading activity)
 
47 
 
151 
Group net interest income – underlying basis
 
11,761 
 
10,885 
Fair value unwind
 
(626)
 
(631)
Banking volatility and liability management gains
 
 
14 
Insurance gross up
 
(482)
 
(2,930)
Group net interest income – statutory
 
10,660 
 
7,338 

Average interest-earning banking assets are calculated gross of related impairment allowances, and relate solely to customer and product balances in the banking businesses on which interest is earned or paid.

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
         
Average loans and advances (gross)
 
504.2 
 
518.7 
Non-banking assets
 
(11.6)
 
(8.8)
Other1
 
(8.9)
 
1.0 
Average interest-earning assets
 
483.7 
 
510.9 

1
Other includes adjustments for assets that are netted for interest earning purposes, reverse repos and the timing effect of disposals.

3.
Volatility arising in insurance businesses

The Group's statutory result before tax is affected by insurance volatility caused by movements in financial markets, and policyholder interests volatility, which primarily reflects the gross up of policyholder tax included in the Group tax charge.

In 2014 the Group’s statutory result before tax included negative insurance and policyholder interests volatility totalling £228 million compared to positive volatility of £668 million in 2013.

Volatility comprises the following:
   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Insurance volatility
 
(219)
 
218 
Policyholder interests volatility1
 
17 
 
564 
Total volatility
 
(202)
 
782 
Insurance hedging arrangements
 
(26)
 
(114)
Total
 
(228)
 
668 

1
Includes volatility relating to the Group’s interest in St. James’s Place in 2013.
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (continued)

Insurance volatility
The Group’s insurance business has policyholder liabilities that are supported by substantial holdings of investments, including equities, property and fixed interest investments, all of which are subject to variations in their value. The value of the liabilities does not move exactly in line with changes in the value of the investments, yet IFRS requires that the changes in both the value of the liabilities and investments be reflected within the income statement. As these investments are substantial and movements in their value can have a significant impact on the profitability of the Group, management believes that it is appropriate to disclose the division’s results on the basis of an expected return in addition to results based on the actual return.

The expected gross investment returns used to determine the normalised profit of the business, which are based on prevailing market rates and published research into historical investment return differentials, are set out below.

United Kingdom
 
2014 
 
2013 
   
 
         
Investments backing annuity liabilities
 
4.54 
 
3.83 
Equities and property
 
6.48 
 
5.58 
UK Government bonds
 
3.48 
 
2.58 
Corporate bonds
 
4.08 
 
3.18 

A review of investment strategy in the Group’s Insurance business has resulted in investment being made in a wider range of assets. Expected investment returns include appropriate returns for these assets.

The impact on the results due to the actual return on these investments differing from the expected return (based upon economic assumptions made at the beginning of the year, adjusted for significant changes in asset mix) is included within insurance volatility. Changes in market variables also affect the realistic valuation of the guarantees and options embedded within the with-profits funds, the value of the in-force business and the value of shareholders’ funds.

The negative insurance volatility during 2014 of £219 million primarily reflects an adverse performance on equity and cash investments in the period relative to expected return.

Policyholder interests volatility
The application of accounting standards results in the introduction of other sources of significant volatility into the pre-tax profits of the life, pensions and investments business. In order to provide a clearer representation of the performance of the business, and consistent with the way in which it is managed, adjustments are made to remove this volatility from underlying profits. The effect of these adjustments is separately disclosed as policyholder interests volatility.

The most significant of these additional sources of volatility is policyholder tax. Accounting standards require that tax on policyholder investment returns should be included in the Group’s tax charge rather than being offset against the related income. The result is, therefore, to either increase or decrease profit before tax with a related change in the tax charge. Timing and measurement differences exist between provisions for tax and charges made to policyholders. Consistent with the normalised approach taken in respect of insurance volatility, differences in the expected levels of the policyholder tax provision and policyholder charges are adjusted through policyholder interests volatility.

In 2014, the statutory results before tax included a credit to other income which relates to policyholder interests volatility totalling £17 million (2013: £564 million) relating to offsetting movements in equity, bond and gilt returns.

Insurance hedging arrangements
The Group purchased put option contracts in 2014 to protect against deterioration in equity market conditions and the consequent negative impact on the value of in-force business on the Group balance sheet. These were financed by selling some upside potential from equity market movements. A charge of £26 million was taken on hedging contracts in 2014 (2013: £114 million).

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (continued)
 
4.         Number of employees (full-time equivalent)

   
2014 
 
2013 
         
Retail
 
35,383 
 
38,844 
Commercial Banking
 
6,188 
 
6,752 
Consumer Finance
 
3,485 
 
3,393 
Insurance
 
2,015 
 
2,373 
Run-off and Central items
 
32,078 
 
32,813 
TSB
 
7,685 
 
7,140 
   
86,834 
 
91,315 
Agency staff (full-time equivalent)
 
(2,344)
 
(2,338)
Total number of employees (full-time equivalent)
 
84,490 
 
88,977 
Total number of employees excluding TSB
 
76,978 
 
81,840 

5.         TSB

The financial results for TSB are presented on a Lloyds Banking Group basis and differ to those reported by TSB for the reasons shown below. Investors in TSB should only rely on financial information published by TSB.

   
2014 
 
2013 
Profit before tax:
 
£m 
 
£m 
         
On a Lloyds Banking Group reporting basis (underlying profit)
 
458 
 
106 
Recognition of product transfers1
 
− 
 
(200)
Cost allocation2
 
− 
 
217 
TSB dual running costs3
 
(326)
 
− 
Volatile items4
 
(26)
 
(46)
Defined benefit pension scheme settlement gain5
 
64 
 
− 
FSCS levy adjustment6
 
− 
 
10 
Other
 
− 
 
(2)
Reported in the TSB results announcement
 
170 
 
85 
   
2014 
 
2013 
Risk-weighted assets:
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
         
On a Lloyds Banking Group reporting basis
 
5.2 
 
5.6 
Risk-weighted assets for operational risk7
 
1.5 
 
0.4 
Other8
 
0.2 
 
0.2 
Reported in the TSB results announcement
 
6.9 
 
6.2 

1
On the Lloyds Banking Group reporting basis, all product transfers to TSB are assumed to have occurred on 1 January 2013.
2
In 2013, TSB was allocated costs on the same basis as the other business segments. In 2014, costs have been charged to TSB in accordance with the Transitional Service Agreement and the costs that were previously allocated to TSB have been charged to the other business segments.
3
This represents corporate head office and similar costs incurred by TSB. The Group has excluded these from underlying profit to provide a more meaningful view of underlying business costs as they represent the duplicated costs of running two corporate head offices. These costs form part of the continuing TSB cost base and are reflected in the Group’s statutory profit before tax.
4
Banking volatility reported below underlying profit in the Lloyds Banking Group results.
5
Following the transfer of employees from employment with Lloyds Banking Group companies to TSB Bank, the defined benefit scheme assets and liabilities have been derecognised from the TSB Bank balance sheet and settled with nil cash consideration, resulting in a one off gain of £64 million. This is eliminated at Lloyds Banking Group level.
6
Adjustment to reflect the change in timing of the FSCS charge.
7
The TSB risk-weighted asset for operational risk is determined by TSB as a standalone organisation.
8
Other relates mainly to risk-weighted assets that result from TSB’s standalone capital calculations, for example threshold adjustments and exposures with other businesses in the Lloyds Banking Group.

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (continued)

6.         Remuneration

The Group believes in pay for performance and providing a competitive package that allows us to attract and retain the key talent necessary to deliver the strategy set by the Board, and in ensuring that fixed and variable remuneration costs are properly managed.

As part of the Group’s goal to be the best bank for customers, we reward our colleagues in a way that recognises the very highest expectations in respect of conduct and customer treatment whilst continuing to be mindful of the economic environment. Key remuneration decisions also take into consideration the views of our major shareholders and other stakeholders.

The Group’s bonus pool has been determined by reference to risk-adjusted performance, affordability and the views of key stakeholders. Material adjustments have been made to the outcome in 2014 (as in 2013) to reflect the impacts of legacy items. Discretionary annual bonus awards of £386 million (including £17 million relating to TSB) will be made for 2014 (2013: £395 million including £12 million relating to TSB). The aggregate bonus awards as a percentage of pre bonus underlying profit before tax has reduced from 6.0 per cent in 2013 to 4.7 per cent.

Further information regarding remuneration awards is included in the separate announcement covering remuneration released today.

 
RISK MANAGEMENT

 
Page 
Principal risks and uncertainties
35 
Credit risk portfolio
37 
Funding and liquidity management
53 
Capital management
58 

The income statement numbers in this section are presented on an underlying basis.
 
 
PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The most significant risks faced by the Group which could impact the success of delivering against the Group’s long-term strategic objectives together with key mitigating actions are outlined below.

Credit risk
Principal risks
Any adverse changes in the economic and market environment we operate in, or the credit quality and/or behaviour of our borrowers and counterparties would reduce the value of our assets and potentially increase our write-downs and allowances for impairment losses, adversely impacting profitability.

Mitigating actions
·  
Credit policy incorporating prudent lending criteria aligned with the Board approved risk appetite to effectively manage credit risk.
·  
Clearly defined levels of authority ensure we lend appropriately and responsibly with separation of origination and sanctioning activities.
·  
Robust credit processes and controls including well-established governance to ensure distressed and impaired loans are identified early, considered and controlled with independent credit risk assurance.

Conduct risk
Principal risks
We face significant potential conduct risk, including selling products to customers which do not meet their needs; failing to deal with customers’ complaints effectively; not meeting customers’ expectations; and exhibiting behaviours which do not meet market or regulatory standards.

Mitigating actions
·  
Customer focused conduct strategy implemented to ensure customers are at the heart of everything we do.
·  
Product approval, review processes and outcome testing supported by conduct management information.
·  
Clear customer accountabilities for colleagues, with rewards driven off customer-centric metrics.
·  
Learning from past mistakes, including root-cause analysis.

Market risk
Principal risks
Key market risks include interest rate risk across the Banking and Insurance businesses. However, our most significant market risk is from the Defined Benefit Pension Schemes where asset and liability movements impact on our capital position.

Mitigating actions
·  
A structural hedge programme has been implemented to manage liability margins and margin compression.
·  
Board approved pensions risk appetite covering interest rate, credit spreads and equity risks. Credit assets are being purchased and equity holdings have reduced in the pension schemes.
·  
Stress and scenario testing of risk exposures.

Operational risk
Principal risks
We face significant operational risks which may result in financial loss, disruption or damage to the reputation of the Group. These include the availability, resilience and security of our core IT systems and the potential for failings in our customer processes.

Mitigating actions
·  
Continually review IT system architecture to ensure that our systems are resilient, and the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our critical systems and information assets are protected against cyber attacks.
·  
Continue to implement the actions from the 2013 independent IT Resilience Review to enhance the resilience of systems supporting the processes most critical to our customers.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES (continued)

Funding and liquidity
Principal risks
Our funding and liquidity position is supported by a significant and stable customer deposit base. A deterioration in either our or the UK’s credit rating, or a sudden and significant withdrawal of customer deposits could adversely impact our funding and liquidity position.

Mitigating actions
·  
At 31 December 2014 the Group had £109.3 billion of unencumbered primary liquid assets and the Group maintains a further large pool of secondary assets that can be used to access Central Bank liquidity facilities.
·  
Daily monitoring against a number of market and Group specific early warning indicators and regular stress tests.
·  
Contingency funding plan to identify liquidity concerns earlier.

Capital risk
Principal risks
Our future capital position is potentially at risk from a worsening macroeconomic environment. This could lead to adverse financial performance for the Group which could deplete capital resources and/or increase capital requirements due to a deterioration in customers’ creditworthiness.

Mitigating actions
·  
Close monitoring of capital and leverage ratios to ensure we meet our current and future regulatory requirements.
·  
Comprehensive stress testing analysis to evidence sufficient levels of capital adequacy for the Group under various adverse scenarios.
·  
In addition to accumulating retained profits, we can raise additional capital in a variety of ways.

Regulatory risk
Principal risks
We are subject to industry wide investigations and reviews into a perceived lack of competition in UK banking and financial services. The outcomes of the UK General Election in May 2015 and the investigations by the CMA and FCA are presently unclear and their impact therefore remains uncertain. Other initiatives under review include the ring-fencing proposals in the Banking Reform Act 2013,the new FCA Consumer Credit regime and CRD IV.

Mitigating actions
·  
The Legal, Regulatory and Mandatory Change Committee ensures we develop plans for regulatory changes and tracks their progress.
·  
Continued investment in our people, processes and IT systems is enabling us to meet our regulatory commitments.
·  
Continued engagement with government and regulatory authorities on forthcoming regulatory changes and market investigations and reviews.

People risk
Principal risks
Key people risks include the risk that the Group fails to lead responsibly in an increasingly competitive marketplace, particularly with the introduction of the Senior Managers’ Regime and Certification Regime which will come into force in 2015. This may dissuade capable individuals from taking up senior positions within our Group.

Mitigating actions
·  
Work collaboratively with regulators to implement the new Individual Accountability Regime in 2015, ensuring burden of proof and attestation requirements are effectively implemented.
·  
Maintain competitive working practices to attract retain and engage high quality people.
·  
Create a work environment which listens and acts on colleague feedback, making the Group the best bank for colleagues.
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO

Significant reduction in impairments
·  
The impairment charge decreased by 60 per cent from £3,004 million in 2013 to £1,200 million in 2014. The impairment charge has decreased across all divisions. The material reduction reflects lower levels of new impairment as a result of effective risk management, improving economic conditions and the continued low interest rate environment.
·  
The charge also benefited from significant provision releases but at lower levels than seen during 2013.
·  
The impairment charge as a percentage of average loans and advances to customers improved to 24 basis points compared to 57 basis points during 2013.
·  
Impaired loans as a percentage of closing advances reduced to 2.9 per cent at 31 December 2014, from 6.3 per cent at 31 December 2013, driven by improvements in all divisions. Impaired loans reduced substantially by £18 billion during the period, mainly due to disposals, write-offs and lower levels of newly impaired loans.
·  
Impairment provisions as a percentage of impaired loans increased from 50.1 per cent at 31 December 2013 to 56.4 per cent at 31 December 2014, driven by the Retail, Commercial Banking and Run-off divisions.

Low risk culture and prudent risk appetite
·  
The Group is delivering sustainable growth by maintaining the Group’s lower risk origination discipline. The overall quality of the portfolio has improved over the last 12 months.
·  
The Group continues to deliver above market lending growth in SME whilst maintaining the Group’s prudent risk appetite. Portfolio credit quality has remained stable or improved across key metrics.
·  
The Group continues to adopt a conservative stance across the Eurozone, maintaining close portfolio scrutiny and oversight. Detailed contingency plans are in place and exposures to financial institutions domiciled in peripheral Eurozone countries remain modest and managed within tight risk parameters.

Re-shaping of the Group is substantially complete
·  
Run-off net assets have reduced from £33.3 billion to £16.9 billion at the end of 2014. This reduction was capital accretive.
·  
The Run-off portfolio now represents only 3.0 per cent of the overall Group’s total loans and advances and poses substantially less downside risk to the Group. The remaining assets are the subject of frequent review, and are impaired to appropriate levels based on external evidence and internal reviews.
·  
The Group’s UK Direct Real Estate gross lending at 31 December 2014 in Commercial Banking, Wealth (within Retail division) and Run-off divisions was £21.6 billion (31 December 2013: gross £27.8 billion). The portfolio continues to reduce significantly, and the higher risk Run-off element of the book has reduced from gross £7.6 billion to gross £3.3 billion during 2014. The remaining gross lending of £18.3 billion (31 December 2013: £20.2 billion) is the lower risk element in Commercial Banking and Wealth, where the Group continues to write new business within conservative risk appetite parameters. The loan to value (LTV) profile of the UK Direct Real Estate portfolio in Commercial Banking continues to improve.
·  
The Group continues to reduce its exposure to Ireland with gross loans and advances reducing by £7.5 billion during 2014 mainly due to strategic transactions, disposals, write-offs and net repayments. The Group has disposed of two significant impaired portfolios in 2014, with a combined gross book value of £2.4 billion.
·  
The Irish commercial portfolio remains significantly impaired at 89 per cent, with provision coverage of 81 per cent. Net exposure in Ireland commercial has fallen to £1.0 billion (31 December 2013: £3.4 billion).
·  
The Irish retail portfolio has reduced from £5,944 million at 31 December 2013 to £4,464 million at 31 December 2014. Within this portfolio, impaired loans have reduced from £1,002 million (16.9 per cent) at 31 December 2013 to £120 million (2.7 per cent) at 31 December 2014, driven primarily by the disposal of the majority of impaired assets in the second half of 2014.
·  
The Acquisition Finance (leverage lending) portfolio has materially reduced and gross loans and advances totalled £1,910 million as at 31 December 2014. The Run-off element of the Acquisition Finance portfolio totalled only £40 million (net £22 million) as at 31 December 2014.

 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Impairment charge by division
   
2014 
 
2013 
 
Change 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
             
Retail:
           
Secured
 
281 
 
249 
 
(13)
Loans and overdrafts
 
279 
 
478 
 
42 
Other
 
39 
 
33 
 
(18)
   
599 
 
760 
 
21 
Commercial Banking:
           
SME
 
15 
 
162 
 
91 
Other
 
68 
 
236 
 
71 
   
83 
 
398 
 
79 
Consumer Finance:
           
Credit Cards
 
186 
 
274 
 
32 
Asset Finance UK
 
30 
 
52 
 
42 
Asset Finance Europe
 
(1)
 
17 
   
   
215 
 
343 
 
37 
Run-off:
           
Ireland retail
 
(6)
 
(26)
 
(77)
Ireland commercial real estate
 
67 
 
219 
 
69 
Ireland corporate
 
247 
 
415 
 
40 
Corporate and real estate and other corporate
 
(28)
 
522 
   
Specialist finance
 
22 
 
345 
 
94 
Other
 
(99)
 
(86)
 
15 
   
203 
 
1,389 
 
85 
TSB
 
98 
 
109 
 
10 
Central items
 
 
 
60 
Total impairment charge
 
1,200 
 
3,004 
 
60 
             
Impairment charge as a % of average advances
 
0.24% 
 
0.57% 
   

Total impairment charge comprises:

   
 
2014 
 
2013 
 
Change 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
             
Loans and advances to customers
 
1,183 
 
2,988 
 
60 
Debt securities classified as loans and receivables
 
 
 
(100)
Available-for-sale financial assets
 
 
15 
 
67 
Other credit risk provision
 
10 
 
− 
 
− 
Total impairment charge
 
1,200 
 
3,004 
 
60 


CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Group impaired loans and provisions
At 31 December 2014
 
Loans and   
advances to   
customers   
Impaired   
Loans   
Impaired   
loans as %   
of closing   
advances   
Impairment  provisions1
Impairment 
provision 
as % of 
impaired 
loans2
   
£m   
£m   
%   
£m 
 
                     
Retail:
                   
Secured
 
303,121 
 
3,911 
 
1.3 
 
1,446 
 
37.0 
Loans and overdrafts
 
10,395 
 
695 
 
6.7 
 
220 
 
85.3 
Other
 
3,831 
 
321 
 
8.4 
 
68 
 
23.1 
   
317,347 
 
4,927 
 
1.6 
 
1,734 
 
38.8 
Commercial Banking:
                   
SME
 
28,256 
 
1,546 
 
5.5 
 
398 
 
25.7 
Other
 
74,203 
 
1,695 
 
2.3 
 
1,196 
 
70.6 
   
102,459 
 
3,241 
 
3.2 
 
1,594 
 
49.2 
Consumer Finance:
                   
Credit Cards
 
9,119 
 
499 
 
5.5 
 
166 
 
76.5 
Asset Finance UK
 
7,204 
 
160 
 
2.2 
 
112 
 
70.0 
Asset Finance Europe
 
4,950 
 
61 
 
1.2 
 
31 
 
50.8 
   
21,273 
 
720 
 
3.4 
 
309 
 
70.5
Run-off:
                   
Ireland retail
 
4,464 
 
120 
 
2.7 
 
141 
 
117.5 
Ireland commercial real estate
 
1,797 
 
1,659 
 
92.3 
 
1,385 
 
83.5 
Ireland corporate
 
1,639 
 
1,393 
 
85.0 
 
1,095 
 
78.6 
Corporate real estate and other corporate
 
3,947 
 
1,548 
 
39.2 
 
911 
 
58.9 
Specialist finance
 
4,835 
 
364 
 
7.5 
 
254 
 
69.8 
Other
 
1,634 
 
131 
 
8.0 
 
141 
 
107.6 
   
18,316 
 
5,215 
 
28.5 
 
3,927 
 
75.3 
TSB
 
21,729 
 
205 
 
0.9 
 
88 
 
42.9 
Reverse repos and other items3
 
9,635 
               
Total gross lending
 
490,759 
 
14,308 
 
2.9 
 
7,652 
 
56.4 
Impairment provisions
 
(7,652)
               
Fair value adjustments4
 
(403)
               
Total Group
 
482,704 
               

1
Impairment provisions include collective unimpaired provisions.
2
Impairment provisions as a percentage of impaired loans are calculated excluding Retail and Consumer Finance loans in recoveries
(31 December 2014: £437 million in Retail loans and overdrafts, £26 million in Retail other and £282 million in Consumer Finance credit cards).
3
Includes £4.4 billion (31 December 2013: £2.6 billion) of lower risk loans (social housing, infrastructure and education) transferred from Commercial Banking division into Insurance division’s shareholder funds to support the Group’s annuity portfolio.
4
The fair value adjustments relating to loans and advances were those required to reflect the HBOS assets in the Group’s consolidated financial records at their fair value and took into account both the expected losses and market liquidity at the date of acquisition. The unwind relating to future impairment losses requires significant management judgement to determine its timing which includes an assessment of whether the losses incurred in the current period were expected at the date of the acquisition and assessing whether the remaining losses expected at the date of the acquisition will still be incurred. The element relating to market liquidity unwinds to the income statement over the estimated expected lives of the related assets (until 2014 for commercial loans and 2018 for retail loans) although if an asset is written-off or suffers previously unexpected impairment then this element of the fair value will no longer be considered a timing difference (liquidity) but permanent (impairment). The fair value unwind in respect of impairment losses incurred was £251 million for the period ended 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: £512 million). The fair value unwind in respect of loans and advances is expected to continue to decrease in future years as fixed-rate periods on mortgages expire, loans are repaid or written-off, and will reduce to zero over time.

 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Group impaired loans and provisions (continued)
At 31 December 2013
 
Loans and  
advances to  
customers  
Impaired  
loans  
Impaired  
loans as %  
of closing  
advances  
Impairment  provisions1
Impairment 
provision 
as % of 
impaired 
loans2
   
£m  
£m  
%  
£m 
 
                     
                     
Retail:
                   
Secured
 
302,019 
 
5,503 
 
1.8 
 
1,447 
 
26.3 
Loans and overdrafts
 
10,598 
 
819 
 
7.7 
 
285 
 
83.1 
Other
 
4,148 
 
408 
 
9.8 
 
106 
 
28.3 
   
316,765 
 
6,730 
 
2.1 
 
1,838 
 
29.5 
Commercial Banking:
                   
SME
 
27,268 
 
2,194 
 
8.0 
 
623 
 
28.4 
Other3
 
80,782
 
2,853 
 
3.5 
 
1,761 
 
61.7 
   
108,050 
 
5,047 
 
4.7 
 
2,384 
 
47.2 
Consumer Finance:
                   
Credit Cards
 
9,008 
 
639 
 
7.1 
 
226 
 
96.6 
Asset Finance UK
 
5,061 
 
221 
 
4.4 
 
140 
 
63.3 
Asset Finance Europe
 
5,478 
 
86 
 
1.6 
 
45 
 
52.3 
   
19,547 
 
946 
 
4.8 
 
411 
 
76.0 
Run-off:
                   
Ireland retail
 
5,944 
 
1,002 
 
16.9 
 
638 
 
63.7 
Ireland commercial real estate
 
5,512 
 
5,087 
 
92.3 
 
3,775 
 
74.2 
Ireland corporate
 
3,918 
 
3,235 
 
82.6 
 
2,305 
 
71.3 
Corporate real estate and other corporate
 
11,571 
 
8,131 
 
70.3 
 
3,320 
 
40.8 
Specialist finance
 
9,017 
 
1,368 
 
15.2 
 
565 
 
41.3 
Other
 
2,519 
 
486 
 
19.3 
 
372 
 
76.5 
   
38,481 
 
19,309 
 
50.2 
 
10,975 
 
56.8 
TSB
 
23,553 
 
227 
 
1.0 
 
99 
 
43.6 
Reverse repos and other items
 
2,779 
               
Total gross lending
 
509,175 
 
32,259 
 
6.3 
 
15,707 
 
50.1 
Impairment provisions
 
(15,707)
               
Fair value adjustments
 
(516)
               
Total Group
 
492,952 
               

1
Impairment provisions include collective unimpaired provisions.
2
Impairment provisions as a percentage of impaired loans are calculated excluding Retail and Consumer Finance loans in recoveries (31 December 2013: £476 million in Retail loans and overdrafts, £34 million in Retail other and £405 million in Consumer Finance credit cards).
3
Loans and advances to customers restated. See note 1, page 75.
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Retail

·  
The Retail impairment charge was £599 million in 2014, a decrease of 21 per cent compared to 2013. The decrease was primarily driven by underlying improvements in portfolio quality and the sale of recoveries assets in the Loans and Overdrafts portfolios.
·  
The Retail impairment charge, as an annualised percentage of average loans and advances to customers, decreased to 19 basis points in 2014 from 24 basis points in 2013.
·  
Retail impaired loans decreased by £1,803 million to £4,927 million compared with 31 December 2013 driven by the Secured portfolio. Retail impaired loans represent 1.6 per cent of closing loans and advances to customers compared with 2.1 per cent at 31 December 2013.

Secured
·  
Impaired loans reduced to £3,911 million at 31 December 2014 compared to £5,503 million at 31 December 2013.
·  
Impairment provisions remained stable at £1,446 million at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: £1,447 million). As a result of this impairment provisions as a percentage of impaired loans increased to 37.0 per cent from 26.3 per cent at 31 December 2013.
·  
The impairment charge increased by £32 million, to £281 million compared with 2013. The impairment charge as an annualised percentage of average loans and advances to customers, increased to 9 basis points in 2014 from 8 basis points in 2013.
·  
The value of mortgages greater than three months in arrears (excluding repossessions) decreased by £2,249 million to £6,344 million at 31 December 2014 compared to £8,593 million at 31 December 2013.
·  
The average indexed loan to value (LTV) on the mortgage portfolio at 31 December 2014 decreased to 49.2 per cent compared with 53.3 per cent at 31 December 2013. The percentage of closing loans and advances with an indexed LTV in excess of 100 per cent decreased to 2.2 per cent at 31 December 2014, compared with 5.4 per cent at 31 December 2013.
·  
The average LTV for new mortgages and further advances written in 2014 was 64.8 per cent compared with 64.0 per cent for 2013 reflecting the Group’s participation in the UK government’s Help to Buy scheme.

Loans and overdrafts
·  
The impairment charge decreased by £199 million, to £279 million compared with 2013. The annualised impairment charge, as a percentage of average loans and advances to customers, reduced to 2.6 per cent in 2014 from 4.2 per cent in 2013.
·  
Impaired loans have decreased by £124 million since 31 December 2013 to £695 million at 31 December 2014 which represents 6.7 per cent of closing loans and advances to customers, compared with 7.7 per cent at 31 December 2013.
·  
Impairment provisions decreased by £65 million, compared with 31 December 2013.
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Retail (continued)

Retail secured and unsecured loans and advances to customers

   
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Mainstream
 
228,176 
 
228,030 
Buy-to-let
 
53,322 
 
50,346 
Specialist1
 
21,623 
 
23,643 
   
303,121 
 
302,019 
         
Loans
 
8,204 
 
8,282 
Overdrafts
 
2,191 
 
2,316 
Wealth
 
2,962 
 
3,232 
Retail Business Banking
 
869 
 
916 
   
14,226 
 
14,746 
         
Total
 
317,347 
 
316,765 

1
Specialist lending has been closed to new business since 2009.

Retail mortgages greater than three months in arrears (excluding repossessions)

   
Number of cases
 
Total mortgage accounts %
 
Value of loans1
 
Total mortgage balances %
 
2014 
 
2013 
2014 
 
2013 
2014 
 
2013 
2014 
 
2013 
   
Cases 
 
Cases 
 
 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
 
                                 
Mainstream
 
37,849 
 
50,437 
 
1.7 
 
2.2 
 
4,102 
 
5,683 
 
1.8 
 
2.5 
Buy-to-let
 
5,077 
 
6,250 
 
1.1 
 
1.4 
 
658 
 
859 
 
1.2 
 
1.7 
Specialist
 
9,429 
 
11,870 
 
6.3 
 
7.3 
 
1,584 
 
2,051 
 
7.3 
 
8.7 
Total
 
52,355 
 
68,557 
 
1.8 
 
2.3 
 
6,344 
 
8,593 
 
2.1 
 
2.8 

1
Value of loans represents total book value of mortgages more than three months in arrears.

The stock of repossessions decreased to 1,740 cases at 31 December 2014 compared to 2,179 cases at 31 December 2013.
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Retail (continued)

Period end and average LTVs across the Retail mortgage portfolios

At 31 December 2014
 
Mainstream 
 
Buy-to-let 
 
Specialist 
 
Total 
 
Unimpaired 
 
Impaired 
   
 
 
 
 
 
                         
Less than 60%
 
44.6 
 
32.4 
 
31.4 
 
41.5 
 
41.7 
 
22.5 
60% to 70%
 
19.9 
 
27.3 
 
19.5 
 
21.2 
 
21.3 
 
15.3 
70% to 80%
 
18.5 
 
21.8 
 
19.8 
 
19.2 
 
19.2 
 
17.8 
80% to 90%
 
10.6 
 
9.4 
 
14.9 
 
10.7 
 
10.6 
 
16.7 
90% to 100%
 
4.5 
 
6.8 
 
8.7 
 
5.2 
 
5.2 
 
11.9 
Greater than 100%
 
1.9 
 
2.3 
 
5.7 
 
2.2 
 
2.0 
 
15.8 
Total
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
Outstanding loan value (£m)
 
228,176 
 
53,322 
 
21,623 
 
303,121 
 
299,210 
 
3,911 
Average loan to value:1
                       
Stock of residential mortgages
 
46.3 
 
61.3 
 
59.2 
 
49.2 
       
New residential lending
 
65.3 
 
62.7 
 
n/a 
 
64.8 
       
Impaired mortgages
 
60.1 
 
81.0 
 
72.6 
 
64.9 
       
                         
At 31 December 2013
 
Mainstream 
 
Buy-to-let 
 
Specialist 
 
Total 
 
Unimpaired 
 
Impaired 
   
 
 
 
 
 
                         
Less than 60%
 
36.4 
 
19.1 
 
20.1 
 
32.3 
 
32.6 
 
15.3 
60% to 70%
 
16.6 
 
20.7 
 
15.7 
 
17.2 
 
17.3 
 
11.2 
70% to 80%
 
19.8 
 
26.5 
 
19.3 
 
20.9 
 
21.0 
 
15.4 
80% to 90%
 
15.2 
 
15.7 
 
20.1 
 
15.6 
 
15.6 
 
17.7 
90% to 100%
 
7.4 
 
11.6 
 
14.3 
 
8.6 
 
8.5 
 
16.1 
Greater than 100%
 
4.6 
 
6.4 
 
10.5 
 
5.4 
 
5.0 
 
24.3 
Total
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
 
100.0 
Outstanding loan value (£m)
 
228,030 
 
50,346 
 
23,643 
 
302,019 
 
296,516 
 
5,503 
Average loan to value:1
                       
Stock of residential mortgages
 
49.9 
 
67.9 
 
66.2 
 
53.3 
       
New residential lending
 
64.0 
 
64.0 
 
n/a 
 
64.0 
       
Impaired mortgages
 
67.2 
 
90.4 
 
80.8 
 
72.2 
       

1
Average loan to value is calculated as total loans and advances as a percentage of the total collateral of these loans and advances.
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Commercial Banking

·  
Commercial Banking net impairment charge was £83 million in 2014, substantially lower than £398 million in 2013. The material reduction reflects better quality origination, improving economic conditions, continued low interest rates and provision releases.
·  
The obligor quality of the Commercial Banking lending portfolio is predominantly rated good or better. New business is of good quality and generally better than the back book average.
·  
Impaired loans reduced substantially by 35.8 per cent to £3,241 million compared with 31 December 2013 mainly due to disposals and write-offs. As a percentage of closing loans and advances to customers, impaired loans reduced to 3.2 per cent from 4.7 per cent at 31 December 2013.
·  
Impairment provisions reduced to £1,594 million (December 2013: £2,384 million) and includes collective unimpaired provisions of £338 million (December 2013: £436 million).

SME
·  
The SME portfolio continues to grow within prudent and consistent credit risk appetite parameters. Net lending has increased 5 per cent since 2013 reflecting the Group’s commitment to the UK economy and the Funding for Lending Scheme.
·  
Portfolio credit quality has remained stable or improved across all key metrics.

Other Commercial Banking
·  
Other Commercial Banking comprises £74,203 million of gross loans and advances to customers in Mid Markets, Global Corporates and Financial Institutions.

·  
The Mid Markets portfolio remains UK focused and dependent on the performance of the domestic economy. Overall credit quality remained stable during 2014.
·  
The real estate business within Mid Markets is focused predominantly upon unquoted private real estate portfolios. Credit quality continues to improve and the number of new impaired connections is minimal.

·  
The Global Corporate portfolio continues to be predominantly investment grade focused.
·  
The real estate business within Global Corporate is focused on the upper end of the UK property market with a bias to the quoted publicly listed and funds sector. Portfolio credit quality remains good, being underpinned by seasoned management teams with proven asset management skills.

·  
The Financial Institutions portfolio relates to relationships which are either client focused or held to support the Group’s funding, liquidity or general hedging requirements.
·  
Traded products continue to be predominantly short-term and/or collateralised with inter-bank activity mainly undertaken with strong investment grade counterparties.
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Commercial Banking (continued)

Commercial Banking UK Direct Real Estate LTV analysis
·  
The Group classifies Direct Real Estate as exposure which is directly supported by cash flows from property activities (as opposed to trading activities, such as hotels, care homes and housebuilders).
·  
The Group manages its exposures to Direct Real Estate across a number of different coverage segments.
·  
Approximately three quarters of loans and advances to UK Direct Real Estate relate to commercial real estate with the remainder residential real estate.
·  
The Group makes use of a variety of methodologies to assess the value of property collateral where external valuations are not available. These include use of market indexes, models and subject matter expert judgement.

   
At 31 December 20141
 
At 31 December 20131
   
Unimpaired 
 
Impaired 
 
Total 
     
Unimpaired 
 
Impaired 
 
Total 
   
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
                                 
UK exposures >£5 m
                               
Less than 60%
 
3,985 
 
52 
 
4,037 
 
47.8 
 
4,365 
 
79 
 
4,444 
 
42.4 
60% to 70%
 
1,644 
 
62 
 
1,706 
 
20.2 
 
2,113 
 
69 
 
2,182 
 
20.8 
70% to 80%
 
964 
 
17 
 
981 
 
11.6 
 
1,117 
 
42 
 
1,159 
 
11.0 
80% to 100%
 
66 
 
211 
 
277 
 
3.3 
 
285 
 
122 
 
407 
 
3.9 
100% to 120%
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
20 
 
351 
 
371 
 
3.5 
120% to 140%
 
130 
 
 
136 
 
1.6 
 
130 
 
170 
 
300 
 
2.9 
Greater than 140%
 
− 
 
95 
 
95 
 
1.1 
 
79 
 
206 
 
285 
 
2.7 
Unsecured
 
1,222 
 
− 
 
1,222 
 
14.4 
 
1,336 
 
 
1,342 
 
12.8 
   
8,011 
 
443 
 
8,454 
 
100.0 
 
9,445 
 
1,045 
 
10,490 
 
100.0 
UK exposures <£5 m
 
8,833 
 
644 
 
9,477 
     
8,565 
 
715 
 
9,280 
   
Total
 
16,844 
 
1,087 
 
17,931 
     
18,010 
 
1,760 
 
19,770 
   

1
Exposures exclude £0.4 billion of gross UK Direct Real Estate lending in Wealth (within Retail division).

 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Consumer Finance

·  
The Consumer Finance impairment charge reduced by 37 per cent to £215 million, with a substantial improvement in the asset quality ratio. This has been driven by a continued underlying improvement of portfolio quality supported by the sale of recoveries assets in the Credit Cards and Asset Finance portfolios.
·  
Total impaired loans as a percentage of closing loans and advances to customers decreased to 3.4 per cent (£720 million) at 31 December 2014 compared to 4.8 per cent (£946 million) at 31 December 2013.

Run-off

·  
Run-off impairment charge was £203 million in 2014, substantially lower than £1,389 million in 2013. The material reduction reflects continued proactive management and deleveraging (for example, disposals and write offs).
·  
Impaired assets reduced substantially by 73 per cent to £5,215 million compared with 31 December 2013, mainly due to disposals and write-offs.

Ireland
·  
The most significant contribution to impaired loans is the Commercial Real Estate portfolio. 92.3 per cent of the portfolio is impaired. The impairment coverage ratio has increased to 83.5 per cent from 74.2 per cent at 31 December 2013 reflecting additional impairments on already impaired connections as well as the impact of deleveraging activities. Net lending in Ireland Commercial Real Estate has reduced to £0.4 billion (31 December 2013: £1.7 billion).
·  
Total impaired loans within the Irish retail mortgage portfolio decreased by 88.2 per cent (£878 million) to £118 million, compared with £996 million at 31 December 2013. The reduction was driven by the disposal of the majority of impaired assets in the second half of 2014.
·  
In the Irish retail mortgage portfolio the average indexed loan to value (LTV) at 31 December 2014 decreased to 88.5 per cent compared with 102.3 per cent at 31 December 2013. The percentage of closing loans and advances with an indexed LTV in excess of 100 per cent decreased to 38.9 per cent at 31 December 2014, compared with 54.0 per cent at 31 December 2013.

Corporate real estate and other corporate
·  
This portfolio predominantly consists of UK real estate loans together with other Corporate loans relating to real estate sectors, supported by trading activities (such as hotels, house builders and care homes).
·  
Net loans and advances reduced by £5.2 billion from £8.2 billion to £3.0 billion. The book continues to reduce significantly ahead of expectations.

Specialist Finance
·  
The Specialist Finance Run-off portfolio has been proactively deleveraged down from £9.0 billion gross (£8.5 billion net) to £4.8 billion gross (£4.6 billion net).
 
·  
Gross loans and advances to customers include the Run-off Asset Based Finance portfolios (which mainly include Ship Finance, Aircraft Finance and Infrastructure) and the element of the Acquisition Finance (leverage lending) portfolio classified as Run-off. The Specialist Finance Run-off portfolio also includes a significantly reduced Treasury Asset legacy investment portfolio.
·  
The majority of remaining lending of £4.8 billion is in the lower risk leasing sector where gross drawn lending totalled £2.5 billion.
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Run-off (continued)

Ireland retail mortgage LTV analysis

At 31 December 2014
 
Unimpaired
 
Impaired
 
Total
   
£m
 
 
£m 
 
%
 
£m 
 
%
                         
Less than 60%
 
979 
 
22.5 
 
18 
 
15.2 
 
997 
 
22.4 
60% to 70%
 
356 
 
8.2 
 
 
3.4 
 
360 
 
8.1 
70% to 80%
 
425 
 
9.8 
 
 
3.4 
 
429 
 
9.6 
80% to 100%
 
925 
 
21.3 
 
14 
 
11.9 
 
939 
 
21.0 
100% to 120%
 
933 
 
21.5 
 
15 
 
12.7 
 
948 
 
21.2 
120% to 140%
 
505 
 
11.6 
 
14 
 
11.9 
 
519 
 
11.6 
Greater than 140%
 
221 
 
5.1 
 
49 
 
41.5 
 
270 
 
6.1 
Total
 
4,344 
 
100.0 
 
118 
 
100.0 
 
4,462 
 
100.0 
Average loan to value:
                       
Stock of residential mortgages
                     
88.5 
Impaired mortgages
                     
124.7 
                         
At 31 December 2013
 
Unimpaired
 
Impaired
 
Total
   
£m 
 
%
 
£m 
 
%
 
£m 
 
%
                         
Less than 60%
 
800 
 
16.3 
 
109 
 
10.9 
 
909 
 
15.3 
60% to 70%
 
297 
 
6.0 
 
56 
 
5.6 
 
353 
 
5.9 
70% to 80%
 
362 
 
7.3 
 
81 
 
8.1 
 
443 
 
7.5 
80% to 100%
 
826 
 
16.7 
 
199 
 
20.0 
 
1,025 
 
17.3 
100% to 120%
 
936 
 
18.9 
 
218 
 
21.9 
 
1,154 
 
19.4 
120% to 140%
 
894 
 
18.1 
 
161 
 
16.2 
 
1,055 
 
17.8 
Greater than 140%
 
826 
 
16.7 
 
172 
 
17.3 
 
998 
 
16.8 
Total
 
4,941 
 
100.0 
 
996 
 
100.0 
 
5,937 
 
100.0 
Average loan to value:
                       
Stock of residential mortgages
                     
102.3 
Impaired mortgages
                     
104.7 

Ireland commercial real estate LTV analysis
Net lending in Ireland Commercial Real Estate has reduced to £0.4 billion (31 December 2013 £1.7 billion). The table below details the loan to value breakdown based on gross lending of £1.8 billion (31 December 2013 £5.5 billion).

   
At 31 December 2014
 
At 31 December 2013
   
£m 
 
 
£m 
 
                 
Gross exposures > €5m
               
Less than 100%
 
65 
 
5.0 
 
198 
 
4.6 
100% to 200%
 
281 
 
21.3 
 
550 
 
12.9 
200% to 300%
 
151 
 
11.5 
 
891 
 
20.8 
300% to 400%
 
90 
 
6.8 
 
513 
 
12.0 
Greater than 400%
 
494 
 
37.5 
 
1,682 
 
39.4 
Unsecured
 
236 
 
17.9 
 
440 
 
10.3 
   
1,317 
 
100.0 
 
4,274 
 
100.0 
Gross exposures < €5m
 
480 
     
1,238 
   
Total gross exposure
 
1,797 
     
5,512 
   
Impairment provisions
 
(1,385)
     
(3,775)
   
Total net exposure
 
412 
     
1,737 
   

 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Run-off (continued)

Run-off UK Direct Real Estate LTV analysis
·  
The Group considers this portfolio to be appropriately provided for after taking into account the provisions held for each loan and the value of the collateral held.
·  
In the case of impaired UK Direct Real Estate exposures (over £5 million), there is a net property collateral shortfall of approximately £60 million. This figure excludes benefits of credit mitigants such as cross collateralisation and cross guarantees. The Group makes use of a variety of methodologies to assess the value of property collateral, where external valuations are not available. These include use of market indexes, models and subject matter expert judgement.

   
At 31 December 2014
 
At 31 December 2013
   
Unimpaired 
 
Impaired 
 
Total 
     
Unimpaired 
 
Impaired 
 
Total 
   
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
                                 
UK exposures >£5m
                               
Less than 100%
 
1,578 
 
204 
 
1,782 
 
67.6 
 
2,021 
 
725 
 
2,746 
 
42.3 
100% to 200%
 
34 
 
440 
 
474 
 
18.0 
 
34 
 
1,630 
 
1,664 
 
25.6 
200% to 300%
 
− 
 
86 
 
86 
 
3.3 
 
 
 
461 
 
461 
 
7.1 
300% to 400%
 
− 
 
149 
 
149 
 
5.7 
 
 
 
400 
 
400 
 
6.2 
Greater than 400%
 
− 
 
144 
 
144 
 
5.4 
 
6 
 
1,196 
 
1,202 
 
18.5 
Unsecured
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
 
 
23 
 
23 
 
0.3 
   
1,612 
 
1,023 
 
2,635 
 
100.0
 
2,061 
 
4,435 
 
6,496 
 
100.0 
UK exposures <£5m
 
412 
 
261 
 
673 
     
618 
 
525 
 
1,143 
   
Total
 
2,024 
 
1,284 
 
3,308 
     
2,679 
 
4,960 
 
7,639 
   
Impairment provisions
 
− 
 
(547)
 
(547)
     
 
 
(2,635)
 
(2,635)
   
Total net exposure
 
2,024 
 
737 
 
2,761 
     
2,679 
 
2,325 
 
5,004 
   
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Forbearance

The Group operates a number of schemes to assist borrowers who are experiencing financial difficulty. There has been no change in the Group’s forbearance policies during the year, except for:
·  
In Commercial Banking, the Group no longer reports as forborne non-payment concessions to unimpaired obligors if the revised terms are within the Group’s risk appetite and the overall risk remains acceptable, taking into account the overall structure of facilities together with the current state and expectations of financial strength (unless there is evidence of financial difficulty). There is no significant impact as a result of this change.
·  
Asset Finance UK balances within Consumer Finance continue to be reported as forborne for six months after a temporary concession has ended (previously such balances were reported as forborne for the period of the concession only) and for 24 months after a permanent concession has been granted (previously 12 months). 2013 values have been restated to reflect this change.

Retail forbearance
At 31 December 2014, UK retail secured loans and advances currently or recently subject to forbearance were 1.4 per cent (31 December 2013: 2.0 per cent) of total UK retail secured loans and advances.

At 31 December 2014, unsecured retail loans and advances currently or recently subject to forbearance were 1.6 per cent (31 December 2013: 1.8 per cent) of total unsecured retail loans and advances. Further analysis of the forborne loan balances is set out below.

UK retail lending
   
Total loans and advances which are currently or recently forborne
 
Total current and recent forborne loans and advances which are impaired1
 
Impairment provisions as % of loans and advances which are currently or recently forborne
   
At Dec 
2014 
 
At Dec 
2013 
 
At Dec 
2014 
 
At Dec 
2013 
 
At Dec 
2014 
 
At Dec 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
 
UK secured lending:
                       
Temporary forbearance arrangements
                       
Reduced contractual monthly payment
 
146 
 
957 
 
29 
 
221 
 
6.0 
 
4.1 
Reduced payment arrangements
 
552 
 
1,336 
 
69 
 
157 
 
3.4 
 
3.2 
   
698 
 
2,293 
 
98 
 
378 
 
4.0 
 
3.6 
Permanent treatments
                       
Repair and term extensions
 
3,696 
 
3,860 
 
168 
 
296 
 
3.5 
 
3.4 
Total
 
4,394 
 
6,153 
 
266 
 
674 
 
3.5 
 
3.5 
                         
UK unsecured lending:
                       
Loans and overdrafts
 
162 
 
191 
 
139 
 
169 
 
39.4 
 
45.8 

1
£4,128 million of current and recent forborne secured loans and advances were not impaired at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: £5,479 million). £23 million of current and recent forborne loans and overdrafts were not impaired at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: £22 million).

 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Commercial Banking forbearance
At 31 December 2014 £5,137 million (December 2013: £7,479 million) of total loans and advances were forborne of which £3,241 million (December 2013: £5,047 million) were impaired. The coverage ratio for forborne loans decreased from 31.8 per cent at 31 December 2013 to 31.0 per cent at 31 December 2014.

The table below sets out the Group’s largest unimpaired forborne loans and advances to commercial customers (exposures over £5 million) as at 31 December 2014 by type of forbearance, together with a breakdown on which exposures are classified as Direct Real Estate:

   
At 31 December 2014
 
At 31 December 2013
   
Direct Real 
Estate 
 
Other 
industry 
sector 
 
Total 
 
Direct Real 
Estate 
 
Other 
industry 
sector 
 
Total 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
Type of unimpaired forbearance:
                       
UK1 exposures > £5m
                       
Covenants
 
153 
 
865 
 
1,018 
 
527 
 
488 
 
1,015 
Extensions
 
− 
 
426 
 
426 
 
69 
 
254 
 
323 
Multiple
 
− 
 
 
 
− 
 
316 
 
316 
   
153 
 
1,297 
 
1,450 
 
596 
 
1,058 
 
1,654 
Exposures < £5m and other
non-UK1
         
446 
         
778 
Total
         
1,896 
         
2,432 

1
Based on location of the office recording the transaction.

As part of the Group’s ongoing review and refinement of forbearance reporting, exposures below £5 million were subject to more granular review which led to a reduction in the level of forbearance reported. Previously, all lower quality unimpaired core exposures under £5 million were reported as forborne.

Consumer Finance forbearance
At 31 December 2014, Consumer Credit Cards loans and advances currently or recently subject to forbearance were 2.6 per cent (31 December 2013: 3.7 per cent) of total Consumer Credit Cards loans and advances. At 31 December 2014, Asset Finance retail loans and advances on open portfolios currently subject to forbearance were 2.1 per cent (31 December 2013: 4.0 per cent) of total Asset Finance retail loans and advances. 31 December 2013 values have been restated to reflect the changes detailed on page 49.

Analysis of the forborne loan balances
   
Total loans and advances which are forborne
 
Total forborne loans and advances which are impaired1
 
Impairment provisions as % of loans and advances which are forborne
   
31 Dec 
2014 
 
31 Dec 
2013 
 
31 Dec 
2014 
 
31 Dec 
2013 
 
31 Dec 
2014 
 
31 Dec 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
 
                         
Consumer Credit Cards
 
234 
 
326 
 
140 
 
188 
 
29.1 
 
21.9 
Asset Finance2
 
109 
 
149 
 
53 
 
75 
 
20.5 
 
24.0 

1
£150 million of forborne loans and advances (Consumer Credit Cards: £94 million, Asset Finance: £56 million) were not impaired at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: Consumer Credit Cards: £138 million, Asset Finance: £74 million).
2
As stated on page 49, Asset Finance retail forborne loan values for 31 December 2013 have been restated to include temporary forbearance arrangements which ended within the last six months and permanent changes which commenced during the last 24 months.
 

CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Run-off forbearance

Ireland commercial real estate and corporate
All loans and advances in Ireland commercial real estate and corporate are treated as forborne (31 December 2014: £3,436 million, 31 December 2013: £9,430 million). At 31 December 2014, £3,052 million (December 2013: £8,322 million) were impaired. The coverage ratio for forborne loans increased from 64.5 per cent at 31 December 2013 to 72.2 per cent at 31 December 2014.

Secured retail lending – Ireland
At 31 December 2014, Irish retail secured loans and advances currently or recently subject to forbearance were 6.3 per cent (31 December 2013: 12.2 per cent) of total Irish retail secured loans and advances. The reduction was driven by the disposal of the majority of impaired assets in the second half of 2014. Further analysis of the forborne loan balances is set out below:

   
Total loans and advances which are currently or recently forborne
 
Total current and recent forborne loans and advances which are impaired1
 
Impairment provisions as % of loans and advances which are currently or recently forborne
   
31 Dec 
2014 
 
31 Dec 
2013 
 
31 Dec 
2014 
 
31 Dec 
2013 
 
31 Dec 
2014 
 
31 Dec 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
 
Ireland secured lending:
                       
Temporary forbearance arrangements
                       
Reduced payment arrangements
 
41 
 
254 
 
28 
 
227 
 
34.0 
 
49.8 
Permanent treatments
                       
Repair and term extensions
 
239 
 
473 
 
13 
 
102 
 
9.1 
 
14.4 
Total
 
280 
 
727 
 
41 
 
329 
 
12.7 
 
26.7 

1
£239 million of current and recent forborne loans and advances were not impaired at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: £398 million).
 
 
CREDIT RISK PORTFOLIO (continued)

Corporate real estate, other corporate and Specialist Finance
At 31 December 2014, £1,998 million (December 2013: £12,051 million, restated following a reassessment of the unimpaired exposure breakdown) of total loans and advances were forborne of which £1,912 million (December 2013: £9,499 million) were impaired. The coverage ratio for forborne loans increased from 32.2 per cent at 31 December 2013 to 58.3 per cent at 31 December 2014.

Unimpaired forborne loans and advances were £86 million at 31 December 2014 (December 2013: £2,552 million, restated). The Group previously assumed that all lower quality unimpaired exposures under £5 million were forborne, as were a number of non-material portfolios. As part of the Group’s ongoing review and refinement of forbearance reporting, exposures below £5 million, and non-material portfolios, were subject to more granular review which led to a reduction in the level of forbearance previously reported.

The reduction also related to unimpaired loans and advances over £5 million and reflects the curing of a limited number of high value transactions where forbearance was granted some time ago and the obligor is no longer considered in financial difficulty.

The table below sets out the Group’s largest unimpaired forborne loans and advances (exposures over £5 million) as at 31 December 2014 by type of forbearance, together with a breakdown on which exposures are classified as Direct Real Estate:

At 31 December 2014
 
Direct Real 
Estate 
 
Other 
industry 
sector 
 
Total 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
             
Type of unimpaired forbearance
           
UK1 exposures > £5m
           
Covenants
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
Extensions
 
− 
 
47 
 
47 
Multiple
 
24 
 
− 
 
24 
   
24 
 
47 
 
71 
Exposures < £5m and other non-UK1
         
15 
Total
         
86 

1
Based on location of the office recording the transaction.
 
 
FUNDING AND LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT

The Group’s funding position has been significantly strengthened and the Group has transformed its balance sheet structure in recent years.

Total funded assets reduced by £14.5 billion to £493.4 billion. The Group loan to deposit ratio has improved to 107 per cent compared with 113 per cent at 31 December 2013. Customer deposits, excluding repos, increased by £10.6 billion and, excluding reverse repos, loans and advances to customers reduced by £15.3 billion primarily driven by a continued reduction in assets in the Run-off portfolio (31 December 2014: £16.9 billion; 31 December 2013: £33.3 billion).

The increase in customer deposits along with the continued reduction in assets in the Run-off portfolio has enabled the Group to make changes in wholesale funding which reduced by £21.1 billion to £116.5 billion, with the volume with a residual maturity less than one year reducing to £41.1 billion (£44.2 billion at 31 December 2013). The Group’s term funding ratio (wholesale funding with a remaining life of over one year as a percentage of total wholesale funding) reduced to 65 per cent (68 per cent at 31 December 2013) as expected in line with maturities of wholesale term funding and limited term wholesale issuance in 2014.

During 2014, the Group has experienced stable term issuance costs that have remained significantly lower than in previous years. The Group has had a limited demand for term wholesale funding in recent years but this may increase in the future as the Group continues to optimise the balance sheet structure.

Following the recent UK implementation of the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive, ratings agencies may review their ratings to reassess the likelihood of UK extraordinary government support. On 3 February 2015 Standard & Poor’s lowered the long-term ratings on the two holding companies Lloyds Banking Group plc and HBOS plc by two notches to the BBB level. The operating companies Lloyds Bank plc and Bank of Scotland plc continue to have long term ratings of A but have been placed on CreditWatch with negative implications. At the same time Standard & Poor’s announced that the holding companies of the Group have a positive outlook as they could revise upward the unsupported Group Credit Profile of Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds Bank plc is currently rated A1 by Moody’s and A by Fitch, however it is likely that they may review these ratings later in the year, taking into account regulatory changes, particularly relating to Recovery and Resolution. The effects of a downgrade from all three rating agencies are included in the Group liquidity stress testing.

The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is due to become the Pillar 1 standard for liquidity in the UK from October 2015. The Group continues to monitor the requirements, has a robust and well governed reporting framework in place and expects to meet the minimum requirements following finalisation from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). Based on the Group’s current knowledge of the LCR standards due October 2015, it believes that it met the upcoming requirements as at 31 December 2014.

The combination of a strong balance sheet and access to a wide range of funding markets, including government and central bank schemes, provides the Group with a broad range of options with respect to funding the balance sheet in the future.

 
FUNDING AND LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT (continued)

Group funding position

   
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
20131
 
Change 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
Funding requirement
           
Loans and advances to customers2
 
477.6 
 
492.9 
 
(3)
Loans and advances to banks3
 
3.0 
 
5.1 
 
(41)
Debt securities
 
1.2 
 
1.4 
 
(14)
Reverse repurchase agreements
 
− 
 
0.2 
   
Available-for-sale financial assets – secondary4
 
8.0 
 
4.4 
 
82 
Cash balances5
 
3.6 
 
3.9 
 
(8)
Funded assets
 
493.4 
 
507.9 
 
(3)
Other assets6
 
265.2 
 
246.3 
 
   
758.6 
 
754.2 
 
On balance sheet primary liquidity assets7
           
Reverse repurchase agreements
 
7.0 
 
0.1 
   
Balances at central banks – primary5
 
46.9 
 
46.0 
 
Available-for-sale financial assets – primary
 
48.5 
 
39.6 
 
22 
Trading and fair value through profit and loss
 
(6.1)
 
3.1 
   
Repurchase agreements
 
− 
 
(0.6)
   
   
96.3 
 
88.2 
 
Total Group assets
 
854.9 
 
842.4 
 
Less: other liabilities6
 
(240.3)
 
(224.7)
 
Funding requirement
 
614.6 
 
617.7 
 
(1)
Funded by
           
Customer deposits8
 
447.1 
 
436.5 
 
Wholesale funding9
 
116.5 
 
137.6 
 
(15)
   
563.6 
 
574.1 
 
(2)
Repurchase agreements
 
1.1 
 
4.3 
 
(74)
Total equity
 
49.9 
 
39.3 
 
27 
Total funding
 
614.6 
 
617.7 
 
(1)

1
Loans and advances to customers and customer deposits restated. See note 1, page 75.
2
Excludes £5.1 billion (31 December 2013: £0.1 billion) of reverse repurchase agreements.
3
Excludes £21.3 billion (31 December 2013: £20.1 billion) of loans and advances to banks within the Insurance business and £1.9 billion (31 December 2013: £0.2 billion) of reverse repurchase agreements.
4
Secondary liquidity assets comprise a diversified pool of highly rated unencumbered collateral (including retained issuance).
5
Cash balances and balances at central banks – primary are combined in the Group’s balance sheet.
6
Other assets and other liabilities primarily include balances in the Group’s Insurance business and the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities.
7
Primary liquidity assets are PRA eligible liquid assets, including UK Gilts, US Treasuries, Euro AAA government debt, designated multilateral development bank debt and unencumbered cash balances held at central banks.
8
Excluding repurchase agreements at 31 December 2014 of £nil (31 December 2013: £3.0 billion).
9
The Group’s definition of wholesale funding aligns with that used by other international market participants; including interbank deposits, debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities.
 

 
FUNDING AND LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT (continued)

Reconciliation of Group funding to the balance sheet

At 31 December 2014
 
Included in 
funding 
analysis 
 
Repos 
 
Fair value 
and other 
accounting 
methods 
 
Balance 
sheet 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
                 
Deposits from banks
 
9.8 
 
1.1 
 
− 
 
10.9 
Debt securities in issue
 
80.6 
 
− 
 
(4.4)
 
76.2 
Subordinated liabilities
 
26.1 
 
− 
 
(0.1)
 
26.0 
Total wholesale funding
 
116.5 
 
1.1 
       
Customer deposits
 
447.1 
 
− 
 
− 
 
447.1 
Total
 
563.6 
 
1.1 
       

At 31 December 2013
 
Included in 
funding 
analysis 
(above) 
 
Repos 
 
Fair value 
and other 
accounting 
methods 
 
Balance 
sheet 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
                 
Deposits from banks
 
12.1 
 
1.9 
 
− 
 
14.0 
Debt securities in issue
 
91.6 
 
− 
 
(4.5)
 
87.1 
Subordinated liabilities
 
33.9 
 
− 
 
(1.6)
 
32.3 
Total wholesale funding
 
137.6 
 
1.9 
       
Customer deposits
 
436.5 
 
3.0 
 
− 
 
439.5 
Total
 
574.1 
 
4.9 
       

Analysis of 2014 total wholesale funding by residual maturity

 
Less 
than 
one 
month 
One to 
three 
months 
Three 
to six 
months 
Six to 
nine 
months 
Nine 
months 
to one 
year 
One to 
two 
years 
Two to 
five 
years 
More 
than 
five 
years 
Total 
at 
31 Dec 
2014 
Total 
at 
31 Dec 
2013 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
                                         
Deposit from banks
 
7.0 
 
1.2 
 
0.5 
 
0.3 
 
0.1 
 
0.1 
 
0.1 
 
0.5 
 
9.8 
 
12.1 
Debt securities in issue:
                                       
Certificates of deposit
 
1.0 
 
2.7 
 
1.2 
 
0.6 
 
1.3 
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
6.8 
 
9.0 
Commercial paper
 
4.7 
 
1.4 
 
0.3 
 
0.8 
 
0.1 
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
7.3 
 
4.8 
Medium-term notes1
 
1.0 
 
0.7 
 
1.1 
 
1.4 
 
1.3 
 
4.5 
 
8.5 
 
10.7 
 
29.2 
 
29.1 
Covered bonds
 
0.3 
 
0.7 
 
− 
 
1.3 
 
− 
 
3.0 
 
8.0 
 
11.9 
 
25.2 
 
29.4 
Securitisation
 
0.1 
 
0.9 
 
2.0 
 
1.9 
 
2.0 
 
2.2 
 
2.4 
 
0.6 
 
12.1 
 
19.3 
   
7.1 
 
6.4 
 
4.6 
 
6.0 
 
4.7 
 
9.7 
 
18.9 
 
23.2 
 
80.6 
 
91.6 
Subordinated liabilities
 
 
 
1.1 
 
1.3 
 
0.7 
 
0.1 
 
3.3 
 
4.6 
 
15.0 
 
26.1 
 
33.9 
Total wholesale funding2
1
14.1 
 
8.7 
 
6.4 
 
7.0 
 
4.9 
 
13.1 
 
23.6 
 
38.7 
 
116.5 
 
137.6 

1
Medium-term notes include funding from the National Loan Guarantee Scheme (31 December 2014: £1.4 billion; 31 December 2013: £1.4 billion).
2
The Group’s definition of wholesale funding aligns with that used by other international market participants; including interbank deposits, debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities.


FUNDING AND LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT (continued)

Analysis of 2014 term issuance

   
Sterling 
 
US Dollar 
 
Euro 
 
Other 
currencies 
 
Total 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
                     
Securitisation
 
1.2 
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
1.2 
Medium-term notes
 
0.3 
 
0.6 
 
2.0 
 
0.3 
 
3.2 
Covered bonds
 
1.5 
 
− 
 
0.8 
 
− 
 
2.3 
Private placements1
 
0.3 
 
1.5 
 
1.1 
 
0.4 
 
3.3 
Subordinated liabilities
 
− 
 
0.6 
 
− 
 
− 
 
0.6 
Total issuance
 
3.3 
 
2.7 
 
3.9 
 
0.7 
 
10.6 

1
Private placements include structured bonds and term repurchase agreements (repos).

Term issuance for 2014 totalled £10.6 billion with the majority across medium term notes and private placements. Utilisation of the UK government’s Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) has further underlined the Group’s support to the UK economic recovery and the Group remains committed to passing the benefits of this low cost funding on to its customers. The Group drew down £2.0 billion in January 2014, under the 2013 FLS and a further £10.0 billion over the remainder of the year as part of the 2014 scheme, bringing total drawings under the FLS to £20.0 billion.

Liquidity portfolio
At 31 December 2014, the Banking business had £109.3 billion (31 December 2013: £89.3 billion) of highly liquid unencumbered assets in its primary liquidity portfolio which are available to meet cash and collateral outflows and PRA regulatory requirements. A separate liquidity portfolio to mitigate any insurance liquidity risk is managed within the Insurance business. Primary liquid assets represent 5.8 times (31 December 2013: 4.2 times) the Group’s money market funding with less than one year maturity (excluding derivative collateral margins and settlement accounts) and are 2.7 times (31 December 2013: 2.0 times) all wholesale funding less than one year maturity, and thus provides a substantial buffer in the event of continued market dislocation.

Primary liquidity
 
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Average 
2014
 
Average 
2013 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
                 
Central bank cash deposits
 
46.9 
 
46.0 
 
62.3 
 
69.4 
Government/MDB bonds1
 
62.4 
 
43.3 
 
47.9 
 
28.2 
Total
 
109.3 
 
89.3 
 
110.2 
 
97.6 

Secondary liquidity
 
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
 
Average 
2014
 
Average 
2013 
   
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
 
£bn 
                 
High-quality ABS/covered bonds2
 
3.9 
 
1.4 
 
3.6 
 
2.0 
Credit institution bonds2
 
0.9 
 
0.4 
 
1.4 
 
1.2 
Corporate bonds2
 
0.6 
 
0.1 
 
0.3 
 
0.1 
Own securities (retained issuance)
 
20.6 
 
22.1 
 
22.2 
 
33.3 
Other securities
 
5.7 
 
4.3 
 
5.5 
 
4.8 
Other3
 
67.5 
 
77.1 
 
74.1 
 
75.2 
Total
 
99.2 
 
105.4 
 
107.1 
 
116.6 
Total liquidity
 
208.5 
 
194.7 
       

1
Designated multilateral development bank (MDB).
2
Assets rated A- or above.
3
Includes other central bank eligible assets.

 
FUNDING AND LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT (continued)

In addition the Banking business had £99.2 billion (31 December 2013: £105.4 billion) of secondary liquidity, the vast majority of which is eligible for use in a range of central bank or similar facilities and the Group routinely makes use of as part of its normal liquidity management practices. Future use of such facilities will be based on prudent liquidity management and economic considerations, having regard for external market conditions.

The entire primary liquidity portfolio and a subset of the secondary portfolio are LCR eligible. The Group considers diversification across geography, currency, markets and tenor when assessing appropriate holdings of primary and secondary liquid assets. This liquidity is managed as a single pool in the centre and is under the control of the function charged with managing the liquidity of the Group apart from the TSB Liquidity Buffer which is managed separately. It is available for deployment at immediate notice, subject to complying with regulatory requirements, and is a key component of the Group’s liquidity management process.

Encumbered assets
The Board and Group Asset & Liability Committee monitor and manage total balance sheet encumbrance and readily realisable unencumbered assets via a number of risk appetite metrics. At 31 December 2014, the Group had £134.9 billion (31 December 2013: £118.4 billion) of encumbered and £720.0 billion (31 December 2013: £723.9 billion) of unencumbered on balance sheet assets. Of the unencumbered assets, £355.3 billion (31 December 2013: £384.5 billion) was classified as realisable for potential future funding requirements with a large pool (£188.1 billion; 31 December 2013: £201.2 billion) of readily realisable assets, from which if needed the Group could meet potential funding requirements at short notice. Primarily the Group encumbers mortgages and term lending through the issuance programmes and tradable securities through securities financing activity.

 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

The Group continued to strengthen its capital position during 2014 through capital-efficient profit generation, further dividends from the Insurance business, changes to and improved valuations of the Group’s defined benefit pension arrangements and a reduction in risk-weighted assets. The positive impact of these items was partly offset by the recommended dividend, charges relating to legacy issues and the Enhanced Capital Notes (ECNs) exchange and tender offers in which the Group repurchased the equivalent of £5 billion nominal (£4 billion regulatory value) of ECNs and issued £5.3 billion of new CRD IV compliant additional tier 1 (AT1) securities.

·  
The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio increased 2.5 percentage points from 10.3 per cent (pro forma) to 12.8 per cent.
·  
The leverage ratio increased 1.1 percentage points from 3.8 per cent (pro forma) to 4.9 per cent.
·  
The transitional total capital ratio increased 3.2 percentage points from 18.8 per cent (pro forma) to 22.0 per cent.
·  
The Group’s Pillar 2A Individual Capital Guidance equates to 3.8 per cent of RWAs, of which 2.1 per cent must be covered by CET1 capital. This reflects a point in time estimate by the PRA, which may change over time, of the total amount of capital that is needed and includes risks that are not fully covered by Pillar 1 such as credit concentration and operational risk, and those risks not covered by Pillar 1 such as pensions and interest rate risk.
·  
The Group is now assuming a steady state CET1 ratio requirement of around 12 per cent.

Regulatory capital developments
Following the implementation of the Capital Requirements Directive and Regulation (CRD IV) on 1 January 2014, the regulatory capital framework within which the Group operates has continued to evolve.

At a global level the Basel Committee has set out a summary of various policy and disclosure initiatives that it expects to undertake during 2015 themed around reducing excessive variability in banks’ regulatory capital ratios. Proposed revisions to the Standardised Approach risk-weight framework in addition to early stage proposals on the design of a new capital floors framework were issued toward the end of 2014.

At a European level a number of capital related CRD IV technical standards and guidelines were published by the European Banking Authority (EBA) during the year, with further technical standards and guidelines expected to be published in 2015, which the Group will continue to be required to meet.

In the UK the Financial Policy Committee (FPC) finalised proposals for a UK leverage ratio framework, setting a minimum ratio of 3 per cent, a supplementary buffer of up to 1.05 per cent (which we expect will apply to the Group from 2019) and a time-varying countercyclical leverage buffer of up to 0.9 per cent (currently set at zero per cent). In January 2015 the PRA issued a consultation on proposals to reform the Pillar 2 framework, including new approaches for determining Pillar 2A capital requirements and the setting of Pillar 2B capital requirements (the PRA buffer).

The Group continues to monitor these developments very closely, analysing the potential capital impacts to ensure the Group continues to maintain a strong capital position that exceeds the minimum regulatory requirements and the Group’s risk appetite and is consistent with market expectations.

Capital position at 31 December 2014
The Group’s capital position as at 31 December 2014 is presented in the following section applying CRD IV transitional arrangements, as implemented in the UK by the PRA, and also on a fully loaded CRD IV basis.
 

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

 
Transitional
 
Fully loaded
Capital resources
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
20132
 
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
20132
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
Common equity tier 1
             
Shareholders’ equity per balance sheet
43,335 
 
39,191 
 
43,335 
 
39,191 
Adjustment to retained earnings for foreseeable dividends
(535)
 
− 
 
(535)
 
− 
Deconsolidation of insurance entities1
(824)
 
(1,367)
 
(824)
 
(1,367)
Adjustment for own credit
158 
 
185 
 
158 
 
185 
Cash flow hedging reserve
(1,139)
 
1,055 
 
(1,139)
 
1,055 
Other adjustments
333 
 
133 
 
333 
 
133 
 
41,328 
 
39,197 
 
41,328 
 
39,197 
               
less: deductions from common equity tier 1
             
Goodwill and other intangible assets
(1,875)
 
(1,979)
 
(1,875)
 
(1,979)
Excess of expected losses over impairment provisions and value adjustments
(565)
 
(866)
 
(565)
 
(866)
Removal of defined benefit pension surplus
(909)
 
(78)
 
(909)
 
(78)
Securitisation deductions
(211)
 
(141)
 
(211)
 
(141)
Significant investments1
(2,546)
 
(2,890)
 
(2,546)
 
(3,090)
Deferred tax assets
(4,533)
 
(5,025)
 
(4,533)
 
(5,118)
Common equity tier 1 capital
30,689 
 
28,218 
 
30,689 
 
27,925 
               
Additional tier 1
             
Additional tier 1 instruments
9,728 
 
4,486 
 
5,355 
 
− 
less: deductions from tier 1
             
Significant investments
(859)
 
(677)
 
− 
 
− 
Total tier 1 capital
39,558 
 
32,027 
 
36,044 
 
27,925 
               
Tier 2
             
Tier 2 instruments
14,197 
 
19,870 
 
10,836 
 
15,636 
Eligible provisions
333 
 
349 
 
333 
 
349 
less: deductions from tier 2
             
Significant investments
(1,288)
 
(1,015)
 
(2,146)
 
(1,692)
Total capital resources
52,800 
 
51,231 
 
45,067 
 
42,218 
               
Risk-weighted assets
239,734 
 
272,641 
 
239,734 
 
271,908 
               
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio
12.8% 
 
10.3% 
 
12.8% 
 
10.3% 
Tier 1 capital ratio
16.5% 
 
11.7% 
 
15.0% 
 
10.3% 
Total capital ratio
22.0% 
 
18.8% 
 
18.8% 
 
15.5% 

1
The amount of post-acquisition reserves for the Group’s Insurance business are excluded from shareholders’ equity. The remaining cost of the Group’s investment in the equity of the Insurance business is risk-weighted as part of threshold risk-weighted assets up to a limit based on the size of the Group’s common equity tier 1 capital position, with the residual amount deducted from common equity tier 1 capital.
2
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014 and are reported on a pro forma basis that includes the benefit of the sales of Heidelberger Leben, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and the Group’s 50 per cent stake in Sainsbury’s Bank. 31 December 2013 common equity tier 1 ratios, excluding the benefit of these sales, were 10.0 per cent fully loaded and 10.1 per cent on transitional rules, while risk-weighted assets under fully loaded rules were £271.1 billion and under transitional rules were £272.1 billion.

 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

The key differences between the transitional capital calculation as at 31 December 2014 and the fully loaded equivalent are as follows:
·  
Capital securities that previously qualified as tier 1 or tier 2 capital, but do not fully qualify under CRD IV, can be included in tier 1 or tier 2 capital (as applicable) up to a specified limit which reduces by 10 per cent per annum until 2022.
·  
The significant investment deduction from AT1 in 2014 will transition to tier 2 by 2018.

The movements in the transitional CET1, AT1, tier 2 and total capital positions in the period are provided below.

   
Common 
Equity Tier 1 
 
Additional 
Tier 1 
 
Tier 2 
 
Total 
capital 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
At 31 December 20131
 
28,218 
 
3,809 
 
19,204 
 
51,231 
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders2
 
1,235 
         
1,235 
Adjustment to above re December 13 pro forma
 
(202)
         
(202)
Adjustment to retained earnings for foreseeable dividends
 
(535)
         
(535)
Pension movements:
               
Deduction of pension asset
 
(831)
         
(831)
Movement through other comprehensive income
 
739 
         
739 
Available-for-sale reserve
 
548 
         
548 
Deferred tax asset
 
492 
         
492 
Goodwill and intangible assets deductions
 
104 
         
104 
Excess of expected losses over impairment provisions and value adjustments
 
301 
         
301 
Significant investment deduction
 
344 
 
(182)
 
(273)
 
(111)
Eligible provisions
 
− 
     
(16)
 
(16)
Subordinated debt movements:
               
Restructuring to ensure CRD IV compliance
 
− 
 
5,355 
 
(4,006)
 
1,349 
Subordinated debt issuance
 
− 
 
− 
 
645 
 
645 
Repurchases, redemptions and other
 
− 
 
(113)
 
(2,312)
 
(2,425)
Other movements
 
276 
 
− 
 
− 
 
276 
At 31 December 2014
 
30,689 
 
8,869 
 
13,242 
 
52,800 

1
31 December 2013 comparatives reflect CRD IV transitional rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014 and are reported on a pro forma basis that includes the benefit of the sales of Heidelberger Leben, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and the Group’s 50 per cent stake in Sainsbury’s Bank.
2
As the Insurance business is excluded from the scope of the Group’s regulatory capital consolidation, profits made by Insurance are removed from CET1 capital. Dividends paid to the Group by Insurance, however, are recognised through CET1 capital and for the period include £400 million paid in March 2014 and £300 million paid in December 2014. In addition, the sale of Heidelberger Leben resulted in the payment of an additional dividend from Insurance to the Group of £295 million.

CET1 capital resources have increased by £2,471 million in the period, mainly due to profit attributable to ordinary shareholders, reflecting underlying profit, dividends from the Insurance business and a pensions credit resulting from changes to the Group’s defined benefit pension arrangements, partly offset by charges relating to legacy issues and the ECN exchange and tender offers. Additional favourable pension valuations through other comprehensive income, favourable movements in AFS reserves, a reduction in the excess of expected losses over impairment provisions and value adjustments and a reduction in deferred tax and significant investment deductions, further increased CET1 capital resources partially offset by an increase in the pensions asset deducted from capital and foreseeable dividends.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

AT1 capital resources have increased by £5,060 million in the period, mainly due to the ECN exchange and tender offers that resulted in the issuance of £5.3 billion of CRD IV compliant AT1 instruments.

As a result of the offers launched in the first half of the year, the Group has met its AT1 requirement under the CRD IV capital framework. Through the exchange and tender offers, the Group repurchased the equivalent of £5 billion nominal (£4 billion regulatory value) of ECNs and issued £5.3 billion of new AT1 securities. In addition to delivering the Group’s AT1 requirement, the exchange and tender offers also increased the Group’s leverage ratio by approximately 50 basis points, improved the Group’s rating agency metrics, and has benefited the Group’s net interest margin in 2014 by approximately 7 basis points. Coupon payments on the new AT1 securities are accounted for as distributions from reserves. The exchanges resulted in a net accounting charge of approximately £1.1 billion, which has reduced the Group’s fully loaded CET1 capital ratio by approximately 50 basis points.

Tier 2 capital resources have reduced by £5,962 million in the period. This primarily reflects the ECN exchange and tender offers, which resulted in £4.0 billion of existing tier 2 ECN instruments being redeemed in exchange for the issuance of AT1 instruments as outlined above and the Group’s stated intention to approach the PRA to seek the appropriate permission to redeem a number of remaining ECN instruments following the Capital Disqualification Event that occurred upon the release of the PRA stress test results which resulted in a further reduction of £0.5 billion. Additional factors contributing to the reduction in tier 2 capital resources included a reduction in eligible provisions and other movements in tier 2 subordinated debt, including foreign exchange, fair value unwind, amortisation of dated instruments and other calls and redemptions. The reduction in tier 2 capital resources was partially offset by the issuance of a £0.6 billion CRD IV compliant tier 2 dated subordinated debt instrument in November 2014.
 
 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

   
Transitional1
Risk-weighted assets
 
At 31 Dec 
2014 
 
At 31 Dec 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
Divisional analysis of risk-weighted assets:
       
Retail
 
67,666 
 
72,948 
Consumer Finance
 
20,882 
 
20,136 
Commercial Banking
 
106,185 
 
123,951 
Central Items
 
12,193 
 
7,743 
TSB2
 
5,170 
 
5,591 
Run-off
 
16,814 
 
30,569 
Underlying risk-weighted assets
 
228,910 
 
260,938 
Threshold risk-weighted assets
 
10,824 
 
11,154 
Total risk-weighted assets
 
239,734 
 
272,092 
Movement to fully loaded risk-weighted assets
 
− 
 
(1,014)
Fully loaded risk-weighted assets
 
239,734 
 
271,078 
         
Risk type analysis of risk-weighted assets:
       
Foundation Internal Ratings Based (IRB) Approach
 
72,393 
 
84,882 
Retail IRB Approach
 
72,886 
 
83,815 
Other IRB Approach
 
15,324 
 
9,526 
IRB Approach
 
160,603 
 
178,223 
Standardised Approach
 
25,444 
 
33,819 
Contributions to the default fund of a central counterparty
 
515 
 
484 
Credit risk
 
186,562 
 
212,526 
Counterparty credit risk
 
9,108 
 
7,546 
Credit valuation adjustment
 
2,215 
 
3,190 
Operational risk
 
26,279 
 
26,594 
Market risk
 
4,746 
 
11,082 
Underlying risk-weighted assets
 
228,910 
 
260,938 
Threshold risk-weighted assets3
 
10,824 
 
11,154 
Total risk-weighted assets
 
239,734 
 
272,092 
Movement to fully loaded risk-weighted assets4
 
− 
 
(1,014)
Fully loaded risk-weighted assets
 
239,734 
 
271,078 

Pro forma transitional rules risk-weighted assets
     
               272,641 
Pro forma fully loaded risk-weighted assets
     
271,908 
 

1
CRD lV rules as implemented by the PRA at 1 January 2014.
2
TSB risk-weighted assets are on a Lloyds Banking Group reporting basis and differ to those reported by TSB as a standalone regulated entity.
3
Threshold risk-weighted assets reflect the element of significant investments and deferred tax assets that are permitted to be risk-weighted instead of deducted from common equity tier 1 capital under threshold rules. Significant investments primarily arise from investment in the Group’s Insurance business.
4
Differences may arise between transitional and fully loaded threshold risk-weighted assets where deferred tax assets reliant on future profitability and arising from temporary timing differences and significant investments exceed the fully loaded threshold limit, resulting in an increase in amounts deducted from CET1 rather than being risk-weighted. At 31 December 2014 the fully loaded threshold was not exceeded and therefore no further adjustment was applied to the transitional threshold risk-weighted assets.
 
 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

Key differences between risk-weighted assets at December 2014 and December 2013 under transitional rules are as follows:
·  
Retail division risk-weighted assets reduced by £5.2 billion in the year primarily due to improvements in credit quality arising from active portfolio management and the impact of positive economic factors (including favourable movements in UK house prices and reduced unemployment) as well as the exit from its joint venture banking operations with Sainsbury’s. These movements are partially offset by risk-weighted asset increases arising from model changes.
·  
Consumer Finance division risk-weighted assets increased by £0.8 billion largely due to new business lending and model changes partially offset by reductions arising from improvements in credit quality and economic factors.
·  
Commercial Banking risk-weighted assets reduced by £17.8 billion mainly reflecting market risk reductions, active portfolio management and methodology refinements. The market risk-weighted asset reduction of £6.3 billion is primarily due to the removal of a temporary capital buffer applied to the Group’s internal market risk models on completion of specific market risk infrastructure projects.
·  
Central Items risk-weighted assets primarily comprise the Group’s liquidity portfolio and strategic equity investments and other balance sheet assets such as fixed assets and sundry debtors. The increase in the year of £4.4 billion is primarily due to equity received in consideration for the disposal of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP).
·  
The reduction in Run-off risk-weighted assets of £13.8 billion is mainly due to disposals, including the sale of loans in the Irish retail mortgage portfolio and movements in external economic factors.

Risk-weighted assets movement
by key driver
 
Credit 
risk1
 
Counter 
party 
credit risk1
 
Market 
risk 
 
Operational risk 
 
Total 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
Risk-weighted assets at
31 December 2013
 
212,526 
 
10,736 
 
11,082 
 
26,594 
 
260,938 
Management of the balance sheet
 
(4,694)
 
(366)
 
(1,850)
 
− 
 
(6,910)
Disposals
 
(9,781)
 
(170)
 
− 
 
− 
 
(9,951)
External economic factors
 
(10,459)
 
1,187 
 
26 
 
− 
 
(9,246)
Model and methodology changes
 
(995)
 
(64)
 
(4,512)
 
− 
 
(5,571)
Other
 
(35)
 
− 
 
− 
 
(315)
 
(350)
Risk-weighted assets
 
186,562 
 
11,323 
 
4,746 
 
26,279 
 
228,910 
Threshold risk-weighted assets
                 
10,824 
Total risk-weighted assets
                 
239,734 

1
Credit risk includes movements in contributions to the default fund of central counterparties and counterparty credit risk includes the movements in credit valuation adjustments.

 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

The risk-weighted asset movements table provides an analysis of the movement in risk-weighted assets in the year and an insight in to the key drivers of the movements. The analysis is compiled on a monthly basis through the identification and categorisation of risk-weighted asset movements and is subject to management judgement.

Management of the balance sheet includes risk-weighted asset movements arising from new lending and asset run-off and management of market risk positions. During the year risk-weighted assets decreased £6.9 billion primarily in Commercial Banking, partially offset by business growth in Consumer Finance and equities received in consideration for the disposal of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership within Central Items.

Disposals include risk-weighted asset reductions arising from the sale of assets, portfolios and businesses. Disposals reduced risk-weighted assets by £10.0 billion, primarily in the Run-off portfolio, including the sale of loans in the Irish retail mortgage portfolio as well as exiting the joint venture banking operation with Sainsbury’s, in Retail.

External economic factors captures movements driven by changes in the economic environment. The reduction in
risk-weighted assets of £9.2 billion is mainly due to positive macroeconomic factors including favourable movements in UK house prices and reduced unemployment which have led to improvements in the credit risk profile of customers.

Model and methodology changes include the movement in risk-weighted assets arising from new model implementation, model enhancement and changes in credit risk approach applied to certain portfolios. Model and methodology changes reduced risk-weighted assets by £5.6 billion, primarily due to the removal of a temporary capital buffer applied to the Group’s internal market risk models on completion of specific market risk infrastructure projects. Reductions in credit risk arise from a number of small methodology refinements in Commercial Banking, partially offset by risk-weighted asset increases arising from updates to the mortgage models and refinement of risk models for unsecured products in Retail and Consumer Finance.

Leverage ratio
The leverage ratio is calculated by dividing tier 1 capital (excluding grandfathered tier 1 securities) by a defined measure of on-balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet items.

On 12 January 2014 the Basel Committee issued a revised Basel III leverage ratio framework that included a number of amendments to the original calculation of the exposure measure, in particular the methodologies applied in determining the exposure measures for derivatives, securities financing transactions (SFTs) and off-balance sheet items. In addition the scope of consolidation has been fully aligned to that applied to the risk-based capital framework, thereby requiring all
on-balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet items of the Insurance division to be excluded from the Group’s total exposure measure and replaced by a measure of the banking group’s investment in Insurance.

In January 2015 the existing CRD IV rules on the calculation of the leverage ratio were amended to align with the European Commission’s interpretation of the revised Basel III leverage ratio framework. Although there remain some minor differences between the framework and the amended CRD IV rules, the Group does not consider these to be material and has therefore elected, in accordance with PRA guidance, to disclose on the basis of the revised Basel III leverage ratio framework, in keeping with the interim 2014 disclosures.
 
 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

   
Fully loaded
   
2014 
 
20131
   
£m 
 
£m 
Total tier 1 capital for leverage ratio2
       
Common equity tier 1 capital
 
30,689 
 
27,041 
Additional tier 1 capital
 
5,355 
 
− 
Total tier 1 capital
 
36,044 
 
27,041 
         
Exposure measure3
       
         
Statutory balance sheet assets
       
Derivative financial instruments
 
36,128 
 
30,804 
Securities financing transactions (SFTs)
 
43,772 
 
29,592 
Loans and advances and other assets
 
774,996 
 
781,984 
Total assets
 
854,896 
 
842,380 
         
Deconsolidation of insurance entities
       
Derivative financial instruments
 
(1,686)
 
(1,030)
Loans and advances and other assets
 
(143,459)
 
(150,174)
Total deconsolidation adjustments
 
(145,145)
 
(151,204)
         
Derivatives adjustments
       
Adjustment for regulatory netting
 
(24,187)
 
(20,926)
Adjustment to cash collateral
 
(1,024)
 
(70)
Net written credit protection
 
425 
 
280 
Regulatory potential future exposure
 
12,722 
 
13,368 
Total derivatives adjustments
 
(12,064)
 
(7,348)
         
Counterparty credit risk add-on for SFTs
 
1,364 
 
1,921 
         
Off-balance sheet items
 
50,980 
 
55,987 
         
Regulatory deductions and other adjustments
 
(10,362)
 
(9,382)
         
Total exposure
 
739,669 
 
732,354 
         
Leverage ratio
 
4.9% 
 
3.7% 
         
Pro forma leverage ratio at 31 December 20134
     
3.8% 
         

1
31 December 2013 comparatives are reported on the same basis of calculation as the current year.
2
Calculated in accordance with CRD IV rules.
3
Calculated in accordance with the revised Basel III leverage ratio framework issued in January 2014, as interpreted through the July 2014 Basel III Quantitative Impact Study instructions and related guidance.
4
Includes the pro forma benefit of the sales of Heidelberger Leben, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and the Group’s 50 per cent stake in Sainsbury’s Bank.
 
 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (continued)

Assets related to Group subsidiaries that fall outside the scope of the Group’s regulatory capital consolidation are deconsolidated. These are replaced with a proportion of the Group’s investment in the subsidiaries, reflecting amounts not already deducted from tier 1 capital as part of significant investment deductions. This primarily applies to the Group’s insurance subsidiaries resulting in the removal of assets related to Insurance division.

Adjustments are applied to the balance sheet asset value of derivatives financial instruments to reflect the application of regulatory netting rules, adjustments for the recognition of cash variation margin (subject to certain restrictions), the addition of notional amounts of written credit derivatives and the requirement to reflect potential future exposure amounts in accordance with regulatory rules.

Securities financing transactions, predominantly comprising repurchase transactions, are subject to the netting rules imposed by the framework. These are considered to be similar to current IFRS accounting rules on netting. In addition a counterparty credit risk amount is calculated and added to the SFT measure, representing the extent to which an SFT is under-collateralised.

Off-balance sheet items primarily consist of undrawn credit facilities, including facilities that may be cancelled unconditionally at any time without notice. The leverage ratio exposure value for off-balance sheet items is determined by applying set credit conversion factors to the nominal values of the items, based on the classification of the item. In accordance with the requirements of the framework the credit conversion factors applied to off-balance sheet items follow those prescribed by Standardised credit risk rules, subject to a floor of 10 per cent.

Other regulatory adjustments consist of other balance sheet assets that are required under CRD IV rules to be deducted from tier 1 capital such as deferred tax asset amounts, pension assets and goodwill and intangibles. The removal of these assets from the exposure measure ensures consistency is maintained between the capital and exposure components of the ratio.

Key movements
The 1.1 per cent increase in the Group’s fully loaded leverage ratio from 3.8 per cent (pro forma) to 4.9 per cent predominantly reflects the increase in the Group’s tier 1 capital position over the period, including the issuance of £5.3 billion of CRD IV compliant AT1 instruments and the growth in CET1 capital, as discussed on page 61.
 
 
STATUTORY INFORMATION

 
Page 
Condensed consolidated financial statements
 
Consolidated income statement
68 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
69 
Consolidated balance sheet
70 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
72 
Consolidated cash flow statement
74 
   
Notes
 
1
Accounting policies, presentation and estimates
75 
2
Segmental analysis
76 
3
Other income
80 
4
Operating expenses
81 
5
Impairment
82 
6
Taxation
83 
7
Earnings (loss) per share
83 
8
Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
84 
9
Derivative financial instruments
84 
10
Loans and advances to customers
85 
11
Allowance for impairment losses on loans and receivables
85 
12
Securitisations and covered bonds
86 
13
Available-for-sale financial assets
87 
14
Other assets
87 
15
Customer deposits
87 
16
Debt securities in issue
88 
17
Other liabilities
88 
18
Post-retirement defined benefit schemes
88 
19
Subordinated liabilities
90 
20
Share capital
90 
21
Reserves
91 
22
Other equity instruments
92 
23
Provisions for liabilities and charges
93 
24
Contingent liabilities and commitments
101 
25
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities
102 
26
Related party transactions
110 
27
Disposal of a non-controlling interest in TSB Banking Group plc
112 
28
Ordinary dividends
112 
29
Future accounting developments
113 
30
Other information
113 
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

       
2014 
 
2013 
   
Note 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
             
Interest and similar income
     
19,211 
 
21,163 
Interest and similar expense
     
(8,551)
 
(13,825)
Net interest income
     
10,660 
 
7,338 
Fee and commission income
     
3,659 
 
4,119 
Fee and commission expense
     
(1,402)
 
(1,385)
Net fee and commission income
     
2,257 
 
2,734 
Net trading income
     
10,159 
 
16,467 
Insurance premium income
     
7,125 
 
8,197 
Other operating income
     
(309)
 
3,249 
Other income
 
 
19,232 
 
30,647 
Total income
     
29,892 
 
37,985 
Insurance claims
     
(13,493)
 
(19,507)
Total income, net of insurance claims
     
16,399 
 
18,478 
Regulatory provisions
     
(3,125)
 
(3,455)
Other operating expenses
     
(10,760)
 
(11,867)
Total operating expenses
 
 
(13,885)
 
(15,322)
Trading surplus
     
2,514 
 
3,156 
Impairment
 
 
(752)
 
(2,741)
Profit before tax
     
1,762 
 
415 
Taxation
 
 
(263)
 
(1,217)
Profit (loss) for the year
     
1,499 
 
(802)
             
Profit (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders
     
1,125 
 
(838)
Profit attributable to other equity holders1
     
287 
 
− 
Profit (loss) attributable to equity holders
     
1,412 
 
(838)
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests
     
87 
 
36 
Profit (loss) for the year
     
1,499 
 
(802)
             
Basic earnings (loss) per share
 
 
1.7p 
 
(1.2)p 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
 
 
1.6p 
 
(1.2)p 

1
The profit after tax attributable to other equity holders of £287 million (2013: £nil) is offset in reserves by a tax credit attributable to ordinary shareholders of £62 million (2013: £nil).
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
         
Profit (loss) for the year
 
1,499 
 
(802)
Other comprehensive income
       
Items that will not subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss:
       
Post-retirement defined benefit scheme remeasurements (note 18):
       
Remeasurements before taxation
 
674 
 
(136)
Taxation
 
(135)
 
28 
   
539 
 
(108)
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss:
       
Movements in revaluation reserve in respect of available-for-sale financial assets:
       
Change in fair value
 
690 
 
(680)
Income statement transfers in respect of disposals
 
(131)
 
(629)
Income statement transfers in respect of impairment
 
 
18 
Taxation
 
(13)
 
277 
   
548 
 
(1,014)
Movements in cash flow hedging reserve:
       
Effective portion of changes in fair value
 
3,896 
 
(1,229)
Net income statement transfers
 
(1,153)
 
(550)
Taxation
 
(549)
 
374 
   
2,194 
 
(1,405)
Currency translation differences (tax: nil)
 
(3)
 
(6)
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax
 
3,278 
 
(2,533)
Total comprehensive income for the year
 
4,777 
 
(3,335)
         
Total comprehensive income attributable to ordinary shareholders
 
4,403 
 
(3,371)
Total comprehensive income attributable to other equity holders
 
287 
 
− 
Total comprehensive income attributable to equity holders
 
4,690 
 
(3,371)
Total comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
87 
 
36 
Total comprehensive income for the year
 
4,777 
 
(3,335)
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

       
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
Assets
 
Note 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
             
Cash and balances at central banks
     
50,492 
 
49,915 
Items in course of collection from banks
     
1,173 
 
1,007 
Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
 
 
151,931 
 
142,683 
Derivative financial instruments1
 
 
36,128 
 
30,804 
Loans and receivables:
           
Loans and advances to banks
     
26,155 
 
25,365 
Loans and advances to customers1
 
10 
 
482,704 
 
492,952 
Debt securities
     
1,213 
 
1,355 
       
510,072 
 
519,672 
Available-for-sale financial assets
 
13 
 
56,493 
 
43,976 
Investment properties
     
4,492 
 
4,864 
Goodwill
     
2,016 
 
2,016 
Value of in-force business
     
4,864 
 
5,335 
Other intangible assets
     
2,070 
 
2,279 
Tangible fixed assets
     
8,052 
 
7,570 
Current tax recoverable
     
127 
 
31 
Deferred tax assets
     
4,145 
 
5,104 
Retirement benefit assets
 
18 
 
1,147 
 
98 
Other assets
 
14 
 
21,694 
 
27,026 
Total assets
     
854,896 
 
842,380 

1
See note 1, page 75.
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (continued)

       
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
Equity and liabilities
 
Note 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
             
Liabilities
           
Deposits from banks
     
10,887 
 
13,982 
Customer deposits1
 
15 
 
447,067 
 
439,467 
Items in course of transmission to banks
     
979 
 
774 
Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
     
62,102 
 
43,625 
Derivative financial instruments1
 
 
33,187 
 
27,658 
Notes in circulation
     
1,129 
 
1,176 
Debt securities in issue
 
16 
 
76,233 
 
87,102 
Liabilities arising from insurance contracts and
participating investment contracts
     
86,918 
 
82,777 
Liabilities arising from non-participating investment contracts
     
27,248 
 
27,590 
Unallocated surplus within insurance businesses
     
320 
 
391 
Other liabilities
 
17 
 
28,105 
 
40,456 
Retirement benefit obligations
 
18 
 
453 
 
1,096 
Current tax liabilities
     
69 
 
147 
Deferred tax liabilities
     
54 
 
Other provisions
     
4,200 
 
4,488 
Subordinated liabilities
 
19 
 
26,042 
 
32,312 
Total liabilities
     
804,993 
 
803,044 
             
Equity
           
Share capital
 
20 
 
7,146 
 
7,145 
Share premium account
 
21 
 
17,281 
 
17,279 
Other reserves
 
21 
 
13,216 
 
10,477 
Retained profits
 
21 
 
5,692 
 
4,088 
Shareholders’ equity
     
43,335 
 
38,989 
Other equity instruments
 
22 
 
5,355 
 
− 
Total equity excluding non-controlling interests
     
48,690 
 
38,989 
Non-controlling interests
     
1,213 
 
347 
Total equity
     
49,903 
 
39,336 
Total equity and liabilities
     
854,896 
 
842,380 

1
See note 1.
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

   
Attributable to equity shareholders
         
   
Share 
capital 
and 
premium 
 
Other 
reserves 
 
Retained 
profits 
 
Total 
Other 
equity 
instruments
 
Non- 
controlling
interests 
 
Total
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
                             
Balance at 1 January 2014
 
24,424
 
10,477 
 
4,088 
 
38,989 
 
− 
 
347 
 
39,336 
                             
Comprehensive income
                           
Profit for the year
 
– 
 
− 
 
1,412 
 
1,412 
 
– 
 
87 
 
1,499 
Other comprehensive income
                           
Post-retirement defined benefit scheme remeasurements, net of tax
 
– 
 
– 
 
539 
 
539 
 
– 
 
– 
 
539 
Movements in revaluation reserve in respect of available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax
 
– 
 
548 
 
– 
 
548 
 
– 
 
– 
 
548 
Movements in cash flow hedging reserve, net of tax
 
– 
 
2,194 
 
– 
 
2,194 
 
– 
 
– 
 
2,194 
Currency translation differences (tax: nil)
 
– 
 
(3)
 
– 
 
(3)
 
– 
 
– 
 
(3)
Total other comprehensive income
 
– 
 
2,739 
 
539 
 
3,278 
 
– 
 
– 
 
3,278 
Total comprehensive income
 
– 
 
2,739 
 
1,951 
 
4,690 
 
– 
 
87 
 
4,777 
Transactions with owners
                           
Dividends
 
– 
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
– 
 
(27)
 
(27)
Distributions on other equity instruments, net of tax
 
– 
 
– 
 
(225)
 
(225)
 
– 
 
– 
 
(225)
Issue of ordinary shares
 
 
– 
 
– 
 
 
– 
 
– 
 
Issue of Additional Tier 1 securities (note 22)
 
– 
 
– 
 
(21)
 
(21)
 
5,355 
 
– 
 
5,334 
Movement in treasury shares
 
– 
 
– 
 
(286)
 
(286)
 
– 
 
– 
 
(286)
Value of employee services:
                           
Share option schemes
 
– 
 
– 
 
123 
 
123 
 
– 
 
– 
 
123 
Other employee award schemes
 
– 
 
– 
 
233 
 
233 
 
– 
 
– 
 
233 
Adjustment on sale of non-controlling interest in TSB Banking Group plc (TSB) (note 27)
 
– 
 
− 
 
(171)
 
(171)
 
– 
 
805 
 
634 
Other changes in non-controlling interests
 
– 
 
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
 
Total transactions with owners
 
 
– 
 
(347)
 
(344)
 
5,355 
 
779 
 
5,790 
Balance at
31 December 2014
 
24,427 
 
13,216 
 
5,692 
 
43,335 
 
5,355 
 
1,213 
 
49,903 
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (continued)

   
Share 
capital and 
premium 
 
Other 
reserves 
 
Retained 
profits 
 
Total 
Non- 
controlling 
interests 
 
Total 
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
 
£ million 
                         
Balance at 1 January 2013
 
23,914 
 
12,902 
 
5,080 
 
41,896 
 
685 
 
42,581 
                         
Comprehensive income
                       
(Loss) profit for the year
 
– 
 
– 
 
(838)
 
(838)
 
36 
 
(802)
Other comprehensive income
                       
Post-retirement defined benefit scheme remeasurements,
net of tax
 
– 
 
– 
 
(108)
 
(108)
 
– 
 
(108)
Movements in revaluation reserve
in respect of available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax
 
– 
 
(1,014)
 
– 
 
(1,014)
 
− 
 
(1,014)
Movements in cash flow hedging reserve, net of tax
 
– 
 
(1,405)
 
– 
 
(1,405)
 
– 
 
(1,405)
Currency translation differences (tax: nil)
 
– 
 
(6)
 
– 
 
(6)
 
– 
 
(6)
Total other comprehensive income
– 
 
(2,425)
 
(108)
 
(2,533)
 
− 
 
(2,533)
Total comprehensive income
 
– 
 
(2,425)
 
(946)
 
(3,371)
 
36 
 
(3,335)
Transactions with owners
                       
Dividends
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(25)
 
(25)
Issue of ordinary shares
 
510 
 
– 
 
– 
 
510 
 
– 
 
510 
Movement in treasury shares
 
– 
 
– 
 
(480)
 
(480)
 
– 
 
(480)
Value of employee services:
                       
Share option schemes
 
– 
 
– 
 
142 
 
142 
 
– 
 
142 
Other employee award schemes
 
– 
 
– 
 
292 
 
292 
 
– 
 
292 
Change in non-controlling interests
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(349)
 
(349)
Total transactions with owners
 
510 
 
– 
 
(46)
 
464 
 
(374)
 
90 
Balance at 31 December 2013
 
24,424 
 
10,477 
 
4,088 
 
38,989 
 
347 
 
39,336 
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£ million 
 
£ million 
         
Profit before tax
 
1,762 
 
415 
Adjustments for:
       
Change in operating assets1
 
(872)
 
20,383 
Change in operating liabilities1
 
11,992 
 
(47,687)
Non-cash and other items
 
(2,496)
 
11,382 
Tax received (paid)
 
(33)
 
(24)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
 
10,353 
 
(15,531)
         
Cash flows from investing activities
       
Purchase of financial assets
 
(11,533)
 
(36,959)
Proceeds from sale and maturity of financial assets
 
4,668 
 
21,552 
Purchase of fixed assets
 
(3,442)
 
(2,982)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
 
2,043 
 
2,090 
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
 
(1)
 
(6)
Disposal of businesses, net of cash disposed
 
543 
 
696 
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(7,722)
 
(15,609)
         
Cash flows from financing activities
       
Distributions on other equity instruments
 
(287)
 
− 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
 
(27)
 
(25)
Interest paid on subordinated liabilities
 
(2,205)
 
(2,451)
Proceeds from issue of subordinated liabilities
 
629 
 
1,500 
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares
 
 
350 
Repayment of subordinated liabilities
 
(3,023)
 
(2,442)
Changes in non-controlling interests
 
635 
 
− 
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(4,275)
 
(3,068)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
(6)
 
(53)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
 
(1,650)
 
(34,261)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
66,797 
 
101,058 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
 
65,147 
 
66,797 

1
See note 1, page 75.

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and balances at central banks (excluding mandatory deposits) and amounts due from banks with a maturity of less than three months.

 
1.
Accounting policies, presentation and estimates

These condensed consolidated financial statements as at and for the year to 31 December 2014 have been prepared in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) relating to Preliminary Announcements and comprise the results of Lloyds Banking Group plc (the Company) together with its subsidiaries (the Group). They do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements. Copies of the 2014 Annual Report and Accounts will be published on the Group’s website and will be available upon request from Investor Relations, Lloyds Banking Group plc, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN, in March 2015.

The British Bankers’ Association’s (BBA’s) Code for Financial Reporting Disclosure (the Disclosure Code) sets out disclosure principles together with supporting guidance in respect of the financial statements of UK banks. The Group has adopted the Disclosure Code and these financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the Disclosure Code’s principles. Terminology used in these financial statements is consistent with that used in the Group’s 2013 Annual Report and Accounts where a glossary of terms can be found.

The directors consider that it is appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. In reaching this assessment, the directors have considered projections for the Group’s capital and funding position and have had regard to the factors set out in Principal risks and uncertainties: Funding and liquidity on page 53.

The accounting policies are consistent with those applied by the Group in its 2013 Annual Report and Accounts except as described below.

On 1 January 2014 the Group adopted the following amendments to standards and interpretations:

Amendments to IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation – Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
The amendments to IAS 32 clarify the requirements for offsetting financial instruments and address inconsistencies identified in applying the offsetting criteria used in the standard.

In previous years the Group has separately reported, in the balance sheet, cash collateral balances and derivative positions with the same exchange; these cash collateral balances are now offset. The effect of this at 31 December 2014 has been to reduce both loans and advances to customers and derivative liabilities by £2,820 million and both customer deposits and derivative assets by £2,294 million. Comparative figures have been revised accordingly, the impact at 31 December 2013 being to reduce derivative assets by £2,321 million, loans and advances to customers by £2,329 million, customer deposits by £1,844 million and derivative liabilities by £2,806 million.

IFRIC 21 Levies
This interpretation clarifies that the obligating event that gives rise to a liability to pay a government levy is the activity that triggers the payment of the levy as set out in the relevant legislation and that an entity’s expectation of operating in a future period, irrespective of the difficulties involved in exiting a market, does not create a constructive obligation to pay a levy. This change has not had a significant impact on the Group.

Future accounting developments
Details of those IFRS pronouncements which will be relevant to the Group but which are not effective at 31 December 2014 and which have not been applied in preparing these financial statements are set out in note 29.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of the Group’s financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that impact the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Due to the inherent uncertainty in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may include amounts which differ from those estimates. Estimates, judgements and assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. There have been no significant changes in the basis upon which estimates have been determined, compared to that applied at 31 December 2013.

2.
Segmental analysis

Lloyds Banking Group provides a wide range of banking and financial services in the UK and in certain locations overseas.

The Group Executive Committee (GEC) has been determined to be the chief operating decision maker for the Group. The Group’s operating segments reflect its organisational and management structures. GEC reviews the Group’s internal reporting based around these segments in order to assess performance and allocate resources. This assessment includes a consideration of each segment’s net interest revenue and consequently the total interest income and expense for all reportable segments is presented on a net basis. The segments are differentiated by the type of products provided, by whether the customers are individuals or corporate entities.

The segmental results and comparatives are presented on an underlying basis, the basis reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. The effects of asset sales, volatile items, liability management, Simplification costs, TSB build and
dual-running costs, regulatory provisions, certain past service pension credits or charges, the amortisation of purchased intangible assets and the unwind of acquisition-related fair value adjustments are excluded in arriving at underlying profit.

Following a reorganisation, effective from 1 January 2014, the Group’s activities are now organised into five financial reporting segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; Consumer Finance; Insurance and TSB. The most significant changes to the segmental structure are:

·  
The Wealth business has been integrated into the Retail division;
·  
The Consumer Finance division now includes credit cards, asset finance and the European online deposits businesses; the Retail and Commercial Banking credit cards businesses have transferred into Consumer Finance;
·  
TSB operates as a standalone listed entity following the IPO;
·  
The remaining portfolio of assets which are outside of the Group’s risk appetite is managed within Other.

In addition, certain regulatory costs, such as UK bank levy and charges in relation to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which were previously reported in Central items, are now attributed to the operating divisions. Comparative figures have been restated for all of these changes. The Group’s underlying profit and statutory results are unchanged by these restatements.

Retail offers a broad range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, personal loans and mortgages, to UK retail customers, incorporating wealth and small business customers. It is also a distributor of insurance, protection and credit cards, and a range of long-term savings and investment products.

Commercial Banking is client led, focusing on SME, Mid Markets, Global Corporates and Financial Institution clients providing products across Lending, Global Transaction Banking, Financial Markets and Debt Capital Markets and private equity financing through Lloyds Development Capital.

The Consumer Finance division comprises the Group’s consumer and corporate Credit Card businesses, along with the Black Horse motor financing and Lex Autolease car leasing businesses in Asset Finance. The Group’s European deposits and Dutch retail mortgage businesses are managed within Asset Finance.

Insurance is a core part of Lloyds Banking Group and is focused on four key markets: Corporate Pensions, Protection, Retirement and Home Insurance, to enable customers to protect themselves today and prepare for a secure financial future.

TSB is a separately listed multi-channel retail banking business with branches in England, Wales and Scotland; it has a digital distribution platform and four telephony contact centres. It serves retail and small business customers; providing a full range of retail banking products.

 
2.
Segmental analysis (continued)

Other includes certain assets previously reported as outside of the Group’s risk appetite and the results and gains on sale relating to businesses disposed in 2013 and 2014. Other also includes income and expenditure not recharged to divisions, including the costs of certain central and head office functions and the costs of managing the Group’s technology platforms, branch and head office property estate, operations (including payments, banking operations and collections) and sourcing, the costs of which are predominantly recharged to the other divisions.

Inter-segment services are generally recharged at cost, with the exception of the internal commission arrangements between the UK branch and other distribution networks and the insurance product manufacturing businesses within the Group, where a profit margin is also charged. Inter-segment lending and deposits are generally entered into at market rates, except that non-interest bearing balances are priced at a rate that reflects the external yield that could be earned on such funds.

For the majority of those derivative contracts entered into by business units for risk management purposes, the business unit recognises the net interest income or expense on an accrual accounting basis and transfers the remainder of the movement in the fair value of the derivative to the central group segment where the resulting accounting volatility is managed where possible through the establishment of hedge accounting relationships. Any change in fair value of the hedged instrument attributable to the hedged risk is also recorded within the central group segment. This allocation of the fair value of the derivative and change in fair value of the hedged instrument attributable to the hedged risk avoids accounting asymmetry in segmental results and leads to accounting volatility in the central group segment where it is managed.

2014
 
Net 
interest 
income 
 
Other 
income, 
net of 
insurance 
claims 
Total 
income, 
net of 
insurance 
claims 
Profit 
(loss) 
before tax 
 
External 
revenue 
 
Inter- 
segment 
revenue 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                         
Underlying basis
                       
Retail
 
7,079 
 
1,212 
 
8,291 
 
3,228 
 
9,034 
 
(743)
Commercial Banking
 
2,480 
 
1,956 
 
4,436 
 
2,206 
 
3,800 
 
636 
Consumer Finance
 
1,290 
 
1,364 
 
2,654 
 
1,010 
 
2,803 
 
(149)
Insurance
 
(131)
 
1,725 
 
1,594 
 
922 
 
1,206 
 
388 
TSB
 
786 
 
140 
 
926 
 
458 
 
912 
 
14 
Other
 
257 
 
210 
 
467 
 
(68)
 
613 
 
(146)
Group
 
11,761 
 
6,607 
 
18,368 
 
7,756 
 
18,368 
 
− 
Reconciling items:
                       
Insurance grossing adjustment
 
(482)
 
614 
 
132 
 
− 
       
Asset sales, volatile items and liability management1
 
 
(1,119)
 
(1,112)
 
(962)
       
Volatility relating to the insurance business
 
− 
 
(228)
 
(228)
 
(228)
       
Simplification costs
 
− 
 
(22)
 
(22)
 
(966)
       
TSB costs
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
(558)
       
Payment protection insurance provision
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
(2,200)
       
Other regulatory provisions
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
(925)
       
Past service credit2
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
710 
       
Amortisation of purchased intangibles
 
− 
 
− 
 
− 
 
(336)
       
Fair value unwind
 
(626)
 
(113)
 
(739)
 
(529)
       
Group – statutory
 
10,660 
 
5,739 
 
16,399 
 
1,762 
       

1
Comprises (i) gains on disposals of assets which are not part of normal business operations (£138 million); (ii) the net effect of banking volatility, changes in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of the Group’s Enhanced Capital Notes and net derivative valuation adjustments (gain of £286 million); and (iii) the results of liability management exercises (losses of £1,386 million).
2
This represents the curtailment credit of £843 million following the Group’s decision to reduce the cap on pensionable pay (see note 4) partly offset by the cost of other changes to the pay, benefits and reward offered to employees.
 
2.
Segmental analysis (continued)

2013
 
Net 
interest 
income 
 
Other 
income, 
net of 
insurance 
claims 
 
Total 
income, 
net of 
insurance 
claims 
Profit (loss) 
before tax 
 
External 
revenue 
 
Inter- 
segment 
revenue 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                         
Underlying basis
                       
Retail
 
6,500 
 
1,435 
 
7,935 
 
3,015 
 
8,526 
 
(591)
Commercial Banking
 
2,113 
 
2,259 
 
4,372 
 
1,890 
 
2,959 
 
1,413 
Consumer Finance
 
1,333 
 
1,359 
 
2,692 
 
965 
 
2,772 
 
(80)
Insurance
 
(107)
 
1,864 
 
1,757 
 
1,088 
 
2,439 
 
(682)
TSB
 
615 
 
163 
 
778 
 
106 
 
863 
 
(85)
Other
 
431 
 
840 
 
1,271 
 
(898)
 
1,246 
 
25 
Group
 
10,885 
 
7,920 
 
18,805 
 
6,166 
 
18,805 
 
– 
Reconciling items:
                       
Insurance grossing adjustment
 
(2,930)
 
3,074 
 
144 
 
– 
       
Asset sales, volatile items and liability management1
 
14 
 
(460) 
 
(446)
 
(720)
       
Volatility relating to the insurance business
 
– 
 
668 
 
668 
 
668 
       
Simplification costs
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(830)
       
TSB costs
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(687)
       
Past service pensions cost
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(104)
       
Payment protection insurance provision
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(3,050)
       
Other regulatory provisions
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(405)
       
Amortisation of purchased intangibles
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
(395)
       
Fair value unwind
 
(631)
 
(62)
 
(693)
 
(228)
       
Group – statutory
 
7,338 
 
11,140 
 
18,478 
 
415 
       

1
Comprises (i) gains on disposals of assets, including centrally held government bonds, which are not part of normal business operations (£100 million); (ii) the net effect of banking volatility, changes in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of the Group’s Enhanced Capital Notes and net derivative valuation adjustments (losses of £678 million); and (iii) the results of liability management exercises (losses of £142 million).
 
 
2.
Segmental analysis (continued)

Segment external assets
 
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
20131
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Retail
 
317,246 
 
317,146 
Commercial Banking
 
241,754 
 
227,771 
Consumer Finance
 
25,646 
 
25,025 
Insurance
 
150,615 
 
155,378 
TSB
 
27,006 
 
24,084 
Other
 
92,629 
 
92,976 
Total Group
 
854,896 
 
842,380 
         
Segment customer deposits
       
Retail
 
285,539 
 
283,189 
Commercial Banking
 
119,882 
 
111,654 
Consumer Finance
 
14,955 
 
18,733 
TSB
 
24,625 
 
23,100 
Other
 
2,066 
 
2,791 
Total Group
 
447,067 
 
439,467 
         
Segment external liabilities
       
Retail
 
295,880 
 
300,412 
Commercial Banking
 
231,400 
 
206,729 
Consumer Finance
 
18,581 
 
21,868 
Insurance
 
144,921 
 
149,445 
TSB
 
25,085 
 
23,289 
Other
 
89,126 
 
101,301 
Total Group
 
804,993 
 
803,044 

1
See note 1.
 

3.
Other income

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
Fee and commission income:
       
Current account fees
 
918 
 
973 
Credit and debit card fees
 
1,050 
 
984 
Other fees and commissions
 
1,691 
 
2,162 
   
3,659 
 
4,119 
Fee and commission expense
 
(1,402)
 
(1,385)
Net fee and commission income
 
2,257 
 
2,734 
Net trading income
 
10,159 
 
16,467 
Insurance premium income
 
7,125 
 
8,197 
Gains on sale of available-for-sale financial assets
 
131 
 
629 
Liability management1,2
 
(1,386)
 
(142)
Other3,4
 
946 
 
2,762 
Other operating income
 
(309)
 
3,249 
Total other income
 
19,232 
 
30,647 

1
In April 2014, the Group completed concurrent Sterling, Euro and Dollar exchange offers with holders of certain series of its Enhanced Capital Notes (ECNs) to exchange the ECNs for new Additional Tier 1 (AT1) securities. In addition the Group completed a tender offer to eligible retail holders outside the United States to sell their Sterling-denominated ECNs for cash. The exchange offers completed with the equivalent of £5.0 billion of ECNs being exchanged for the equivalent of £5.35 billion of AT1 securities, before issue costs. The retail tender offer completed with approximately £58.5 million of ECNs being repurchased for cash. A loss of £1,362 million has been recognised in relation to these exchange and tender transactions in the year ended 31 December 2014.
2
Losses of £24 million arose in 2014 (2013: £142 million) on other transactions undertaken as part of the Group’s management of its wholesale funding and capital.
3
On 31 March 2014 the Group completed the sale of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, realising a gain of £128 million.
4
During 2013 the Group had completed a number of disposals of assets and businesses, including the sale of its shareholding in St. James’s Place plc (profit of £540 million), a portfolio of US residential mortgage-backed securities (profit of £538 million), its Spanish retail banking operations (loss of £256 million), its Australian operations (profit of £49 million) and its German life insurance business (this disposal completed in the first quarter of 2014, but an impairment of £382 million was recognised in the year ended 31 December 2013).


4.
Operating expenses

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
Administrative expenses
       
Staff costs:
       
Salaries
 
3,178  
 
3,331  
Performance-based compensation
 
390  
 
473  
Social security costs
 
398  
 
385  
Pensions and other post-retirement benefit schemes:
       
Past service (credits) charges1
   
(822)
     
104 
 
Other
   
596 
     
654 
 
   
(226) 
 
758  
Restructuring costs
 
264  
 
111  
Other staff costs
 
741  
 
783  
   
4,745  
 
5,841  
Premises and equipment:
       
Rent and rates
 
424  
 
467  
Hire of equipment
 
12  
 
15  
Repairs and maintenance
 
221  
 
178  
Other
 
234  
 
310  
   
891  
 
970  
Other expenses:
       
Communications and data processing
 
1,118  
 
1,169  
Advertising and promotion
 
336  
 
313  
Professional fees
 
481  
 
425  
UK bank levy
 
237  
 
238  
Other
 
1,017  
 
971  
   
3,189  
 
3,116  
   
8,825  
 
9,927  
Depreciation and amortisation
 
1,935  
 
1,940  
Total operating expenses, excluding regulatory provisions
 
10,760  
 
11,867  
Regulatory provisions:
       
Payment protection insurance provision (note 23)
 
2,200  
 
3,050  
Other regulatory provisions (note 23)
 
925  
 
405  
   
3,125  
 
3,455  
Total operating expenses
 
13,885  
 
15,322  

1
On 11 March 2014 the Group announced a change to its defined benefit pension schemes, revising the existing cap on the increases in pensionable pay used in calculating the pension benefit, from 2 per cent to nil with effect from 2 April 2014. The effect of this change was to reduce the Group's retirement benefit obligations recognised on the balance sheet by £843 million with a corresponding curtailment gain recognised in the income statement. This has been partly offset by a charge of £21 million following changes to pension arrangements for staff within the TSB business.
 
In 2013, the Group agreed certain changes to early retirement and commutation factors in two of its principal defined benefit pension schemes, resulting in a curtailment cost of £104 million recognised in the Group’s income statement in the year ended 31 December 2013.
 
 
4.
Operating expenses (continued)

 
Performance-based compensation
The table below analyses the Group’s performance-based compensation costs (excluding branch-based sales incentives) between those relating to the current performance year and those relating to earlier years.

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
Performance-based compensation expense comprises:
       
Awards made in respect of the year ended 31 December
 
324 
 
394 
Awards made in respect of earlier years
 
66 
 
79 
   
390 
 
473 
Performance-based compensation expense deferred until later years comprises:
       
Awards made in respect of the year ended 31 December
 
152 
 
47 
Awards made in respect of earlier years
 
32 
 
30 
   
184 
 
77 

Performance-based awards expensed in 2014 include cash awards amounting to £104 million (2013: £126 million).


5.
Impairment

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
Impairment losses on loans and receivables:
       
Loans and advances to customers
 
735 
 
2,725 
Debt securities classified as loans and receivables
 
 
Impairment losses on loans and receivables (note 11)
 
737 
 
2,726 
Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets
 
 
15 
Other credit risk provisions
 
10 
 
− 
Total impairment charged to the income statement
 
752 
 
2,741 
 
 
6.
Taxation

A reconciliation of the tax charge that would result from applying the standard UK corporation tax rate to the profit before tax, to the actual tax charge, is given below:

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Profit before tax
 
1,762 
 
415 
         
Tax charge thereon at UK corporation tax rate of 21.5 per cent
(2013: 23.25 per cent)
 
(379)
 
(96)
Factors affecting tax charge:
       
UK corporation tax rate change and related impacts
 
(24)
 
(594)
Disallowed items
 
(195)
 
(167)
Non-taxable items
 
153 
 
132 
Overseas tax rate differences
 
(24)
 
(116)
Gains exempted or covered by capital losses
 
181 
 
57 
Policyholder tax
 
(14)
 
(251)
Deferred tax on losses no longer recognised following sale of Australian operations
 
− 
 
(348)
Deferred tax on Australian tax losses not previously recognised
 
− 
 
60 
Adjustments in respect of previous years
 
34 
 
97 
Effect of results of joint ventures and associates
 
 
Other items
 
(2)
 
− 
Tax charge
 
(263)
 
(1,217)


7.
Earnings (loss) per share

   
2014 
 
2013 
         
Basic
       
Profit (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders
 
£1,125m 
 
£(838)m 
Tax credit on distributions to other equity holders
 
£62m 
 
− 
   
£1,187m 
 
£(838)m 
         
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue
 
71,350m 
 
71,009m 
Earnings (loss) per share
 
1.7p 
 
(1.2)p 
         
Fully diluted
       
Profit (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders
 
£1,125m 
 
£(838)m 
Tax credit on distributions to other equity holders
 
£62m 
 
− 
   
£1,187m 
 
£(838)m 
         
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue
 
72,447m 
 
71,009m 
Earnings (loss) per share
 
1.6p 
 
(1.2)p 
 
 
8.         Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Trading assets
 
48,494 
 
37,350 
         
Other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
       
Treasury and other bills
 
22 
 
54 
Loans and advances to customers
 
− 
 
27 
Debt securities
 
41,839 
 
38,853 
Equity shares
 
61,576 
 
66,399 
   
103,437 
 
105,333 
Total trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
 
151,931 
 
142,683 

Included in the above is £94,314 million (31 December 2013: £101,185 million) of assets relating to the insurance businesses.


9.
Derivative financial instruments

   
31 December 2014
 
31 December 20131
   
Fair value 
of assets 
Fair value 
of liabilities 
 
Fair value 
of assets 
 
Fair value 
of liabilities 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
Hedging
               
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges
 
2,472 
 
962 
 
3,055 
 
1,497 
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
 
1,761 
 
2,654 
 
1,687 
 
3,021 
   
4,233 
 
3,616 
 
4,742 
 
4,518 
Trading and other
               
Exchange rate contracts
 
7,034 
 
6,950 
 
4,686 
 
5,671 
Interest rate contracts
 
22,506 
 
20,374 
 
18,203 
 
15,801 
Credit derivatives
 
279 
 
1,066 
 
208 
 
190 
Embedded equity conversion feature
 
646 
 
− 
 
1,212 
 
– 
Equity and other contracts
 
1,430 
 
1,181 
 
1,753 
 
1,478 
   
31,895 
 
29,571 
 
26,062 
 
23,140 
Total recognised derivative assets/liabilities
 
36,128 
 
33,187 
 
30,804 
 
27,658 

1
See note 1.

The Group reduces exposure to credit risk by using master netting agreements and by obtaining cash collateral. Of the derivative assets of £36,128 million at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: £30,804 million), £21,929 million (31 December 2013: £19,479 million) is available for offset under master netting arrangements. These do not meet the criteria under IAS 32 to enable derivative assets to be presented net of these balances. Of the remaining derivative assets of £14,199 million (31 December 2013: £11,325 million), cash collateral of £3,651 million (31 December 2013: £2,702 million) was held.

The embedded equity conversion feature of £646 million (31 December 2013: £1,212 million) reflects the value of the equity conversion feature contained in the Enhanced Capital Notes issued by the Group in 2009; a gain of £401 million arose from the change in fair value in 2014 (2013: loss of £209 million) and is included within net trading income. In addition, £967 million of the embedded derivative, being that portion of the embedded equity conversion feature related to ECNs derecognised pursuant to the Group’s exchange and retail tender transactions completed in April 2014 (see note 3), was derecognised on completion of those transactions.

 
10.
Loans and advances to customers

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
20131
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
 
6,586 
 
6,051 
Energy and water supply
 
3,853 
 
4,414 
Manufacturing
 
6,000 
 
7,650 
Construction
 
6,425 
 
7,024 
Transport, distribution and hotels
 
15,112 
 
22,294 
Postal and communications
 
2,624 
 
2,364 
Property companies
 
36,682 
 
44,277 
Financial, business and other services
 
44,979 
 
42,478 
Personal:
       
Mortgages
 
333,318 
 
335,611 
Other
 
23,123 
 
23,230 
Lease financing
 
3,013 
 
4,435 
Hire purchase
 
7,403 
 
5,090 
   
489,118 
 
504,918 
Allowance for impairment losses on loans and advances (note 11)
 
(6,414)
 
(11,966)
Total loans and advances to customers
 
482,704 
 
492,952 

1
See note 1.

Loans and advances to customers include advances securitised under the Group's securitisation and covered bond programmes. Further details are given in note 12.


11.
Allowance for impairment losses on loans and receivables

   
Year ended 
31 December 2014 
 
Year ended 
31 December  2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Opening balance
 
12,091 
 
15,459 
Exchange and other adjustments
 
(401)
 
291 
Adjustment on disposal of businesses
 
− 
 
(176)
Advances written off
 
(6,442)
 
(6,314)
Recoveries of advances written off in previous years
 
681 
 
456 
Unwinding of discount
 
(126)
 
(351)
Charge to the income statement (note 5)
 
737 
 
2,726 
Balance at end of year
 
6,540 
 
12,091 
         
In respect of:
       
Loans and advances to customers (note 10)
 
6,414 
 
11,966 
Debt securities
 
126 
 
125 
Balance at end of year
 
6,540 
 
12,091 
 

12.
Securitisations and covered bonds

The Group's principal securitisation and covered bond programmes, together with the balances of the loans subject to these arrangements and the carrying value of the notes in issue, are listed in the table below.

 
31 December 2014
 
31 December 2013
 
Loans and 
advances 
securitised 
 
Notes in 
issue 
 
Loans and 
advances 
securitised 
 
Notes in 
issue 
Securitisation programmes1
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
UK residential mortgages
 
50,250 
 
28,392 
 
55,998 
 
36,286 
Commercial loans
 
13,372 
 
12,533 
 
10,931 
 
11,259 
Credit card receivables
 
6,762 
 
4,278 
 
6,314 
 
3,992 
Dutch residential mortgages
 
3,866 
 
4,004 
 
4,381 
 
4,508 
Personal loans
 
1,318 
 
751 
 
2,729 
 
750 
PPP/PFI and project finance loans
 
402 
 
99 
 
525 
 
106 
   
75,970 
 
50,057 
 
80,878 
 
56,901 
Less held by the Group
     
(38,149)
     
(38,288)
Total securitisation programmes (note 16)
     
11,908 
     
18,613 
                 
Covered bond programmes
               
Residential mortgage-backed
 
47,795 
 
31,730 
 
59,576 
 
36,473 
Social housing loan-backed
 
2,826 
 
1,800 
 
2,536 
 
1,800 
   
50,621 
 
33,530 
 
62,112 
 
38,273 
Less held by the Group
     
(6,339)
     
(7,606)
Total covered bond programmes (note 16)
     
27,191 
     
30,667 
                 
Total securitisation and covered bond programmes
     
39,099 
     
49,280 

1
Includes securitisations utilising a combination of external funding and credit default swaps.

Securitisation programmes
Loans and advances to customers and debt securities classified as loans and receivables include loans securitised under the Group's securitisation programmes, the majority of which have been sold by subsidiary companies to bankruptcy remote structured entities. As the structured entities are funded by the issue of debt on terms whereby the majority of the risks and rewards of the portfolio are retained by the subsidiary, the structured entities are consolidated fully and all of these loans are retained on the Group's balance sheet, with the related notes in issue included within debt securities in issue (note 16).

Covered bond programmes
Certain loans and advances to customers have been assigned to bankruptcy remote limited liability partnerships to provide security to issues of covered bonds by the Group. The Group retains all of the risks and rewards associated with these loans and the partnerships are consolidated fully, with the loans retained on the Group's balance sheet and the related covered bonds in issue included within debt securities in issue (note 16).

Cash deposits of £11,251 million (31 December 2013: £13,500 million) held by the Group are restricted in use to repayment of the debt securities issued by the structured entities, the term advances relating to covered bonds and other legal obligations.

Asset-backed conduits
In addition to the structured entities detailed above, the Group sponsors three asset-backed conduits: Argento, Cancara and Grampian, which invest in debt securities and client receivables (note 10).
 
 
13.
Available-for-sale financial assets

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Asset-backed securities
 
1,359 
 
2,178 
Other debt securities:
       
Bank and building society certificates of deposit
 
298 
 
208 
Government securities
 
47,402 
 
38,290 
Corporate and other debt securities
 
5,529 
 
1,855 
   
53,229 
 
40,353 
Equity shares
 
1,042 
 
570 
Treasury and other bills
 
863 
 
875 
Total
 
56,493 
 
43,976 


14.
Other assets

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Assets arising from reinsurance contracts held
 
682 
 
732 
Deferred acquisition and origination costs
 
114 
 
130 
Settlement balances
 
1,676 
 
2,904 
Corporate pension asset
 
12,741 
 
9,984 
Investments in joint ventures and associates
 
74 
 
101 
Assets of disposal groups
 
− 
 
7,988 
Other assets and prepayments
 
6,407 
 
5,187 
Total other assets
 
21,694 
 
27,026 


15.
Customer deposits

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
20131
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Non-interest bearing current accounts
 
46,487 
 
40,802 
Interest bearing current accounts
 
86,131 
 
77,789 
Savings and investment accounts
 
256,701 
 
265,422 
Liabilities in respect of securities sold under repurchase agreements
 
− 
 
2,978 
Other customer deposits
 
57,748 
 
52,476 
Total
 
447,067 
 
439,467 

1
See note 1.
 
 
16.
Debt securities in issue
 
 
31 December 2014
 
31 December 2013
 
At fair value 
through 
profit or 
loss 
At 
amortised 
cost 
 
Total 
At fair value 
through 
profit or 
loss 
 
At 
amortised 
cost 
 
Total 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                         
Medium-term notes issued
 
6,739 
 
22,728 
 
29,467 
 
5,267 
 
23,921 
 
29,188 
Covered bonds (note 12)
 
− 
 
27,191 
 
27,191 
 
– 
 
30,667 
 
30,667 
Certificates of deposit
 
− 
 
7,033 
 
7,033 
 
– 
 
8,866 
 
8,866 
Securitisation notes (note 12)
 
− 
 
11,908 
 
11,908 
 
– 
 
18,613 
 
18,613 
Commercial paper
 
− 
 
7,373 
 
7,373 
 
– 
 
5,035 
 
5,035 
   
6,739 
 
76,233 
 
82,972 
 
5,267 
 
87,102 
 
92,369 
 

17.
Other liabilities

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Settlement balances
 
1,024 
 
3,358 
Unitholders’ interest in Open Ended Investment Companies
 
19,525 
 
22,219 
Liabilities of disposal groups
 
− 
 
7,302 
Other creditors and accruals
 
7,556 
 
7,577 
Total other liabilities
 
28,105 
 
40,456 


18.
Post-retirement defined benefit schemes

 
The Group’s post-retirement defined benefit scheme obligations are comprised as follows:

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Defined benefit pension schemes:
       
 - Fair value of scheme assets
 
38,133 
 
32,568 
 - Present value of funded obligations
 
(37,243)
 
(33,355)
Net pension scheme liability
 
890 
 
(787)
Other post-retirement schemes
 
(196)
 
(211)
Net retirement benefit asset (liability)
 
694 
 
(998)

Recognised on the balance sheet as:
       
Retirement benefit assets
 
1,147 
 
98 
Retirement benefit obligations
 
(453)
 
(1,096)
Net retirement benefit asset (liability)
 
694 
 
(998)
 
 
18.
Post-retirement defined benefit schemes (continued)

The movement in the Group’s net post-retirement defined benefit scheme asset (liability) during the year was as follows:

   
£m 
     
At 1 January 2014
 
(998)
Exchange and other adjustments
 
Income statement charge:
   
Regular cost
 
(344)
Curtailments (see below)
 
822 
   
478 
Employer contributions
 
538 
Remeasurement
 
674 
At 31 December 2014
 
694 

Included within curtailments is a credit of £843 million following the Group’s decision to reduce the cap on pensionable pay (see note 4); this is partly offset by a charge of £21 million following changes to pension arrangements for staff within the TSB business.

The charge to the income statement in respect of pensions and other post-retirement benefit schemes is comprised
as follows:

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Past service (credit) cost (note 4)
 
(822)
 
104 
Current service cost
 
344 
 
399 
Defined benefit pension schemes
 
(478)
 
503 
Defined contribution schemes
 
252 
 
255 
Total charge to the income statement (note 4)
 
(226)
 
758 

The principal assumptions used in the valuations of the defined benefit pension scheme were as follows:

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
 
         
Discount rate
 
3.67 
 
4.60 
Rate of inflation:
       
Retail Prices Index
 
2.95 
 
3.30 
Consumer Price Index
 
1.95 
 
2.30 
Rate of salary increases
 
0.00 
 
2.00 
Weighted-average rate of increase for pensions in payment
 
2.59 
 
2.80 

The application of the revised assumptions as at 31 December 2014 to the Group’s principal post-retirement defined benefit schemes has resulted in a remeasurement gain of £674 million which has been recognised in other comprehensive income, net of deferred tax of £135 million.
 
 
19.
Subordinated liabilities

The Group’s subordinated liabilities are comprised as follows:

   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Preference shares
 
1,091 
 
876 
Preferred securities
 
3,819 
 
4,301 
Undated subordinated liabilities
 
1,852 
 
1,916 
Enhanced Capital Notes
 
3,683 
 
8,938 
Dated subordinated liabilities
 
15,597 
 
16,281 
Total subordinated liabilities
 
26,042 
 
32,312 

The movement in subordinated liabilities during the year was as follows:

   
2014 
 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
At 1 January
 
32,312 
 
34,092 
New issues during the year
 
629 
 
1,500 
Exchange offer in respect of Enhanced Capital Notes (notes 3 and 22)
 
(4,961)
 
− 
Other repurchases and redemptions during the year
 
(3,023)
 
(2,442)
Foreign exchange and other movements
 
1,085 
 
(838)
At 31 December
 
26,042 
 
32,312 


20.
Share capital

Movements in share capital during the year were as follows:

   
Number of shares 
   
   
(million)
 
£m 
         
Ordinary shares of 10p each
       
At 1 January 2014
 
71,368 
 
7,137 
Issued in the year (see below)
 
 
At 31 December 2014
 
71,374 
 
7,138 
         
Limited voting ordinary shares of 10p each
       
At 1 January and 31 December 2014
 
81 
 
Total share capital
     
7,146 

The ordinary shares issued in the year were in respect of employee share schemes.
 
 
21.
Reserves

       
Other reserves
   
   
Share 
premium 
   
Available- 
for-sale 
 
Cash flow 
hedging 
 
Merger 
and other 
   
Total 
 
Retained 
profits 
   
£m 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
   
£m 
 
£m 
                             
At 1 January 2014
 
17,279 
   
(615)
 
(1,055)
 
12,147 
   
10,477 
 
4,088 
Issue of ordinary shares
 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
Profit for the year
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
1,412 
Issue costs of other equity instruments, net of tax (note 22)
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
(21)
Distributions on other equity instruments, net of tax
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
(225)
Post-retirement defined benefit scheme remeasurements,
net of tax
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
539 
Movement in treasury shares
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
(286)
Value of employee
services:
                           
Share option schemes
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
123 
Other employee award schemes
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
233 
Change in fair value of available-for-sale assets, net of tax
 
– 
   
625 
 
– 
 
– 
   
625 
 
– 
Change in fair value of hedging derivatives,
net of tax
 
– 
   
– 
 
3,131 
 
– 
   
3,131 
 
– 
Transfers to income statement, net of tax
 
– 
   
(77)
 
(937)
 
– 
   
(1,014)
 
– 
Adjustment on sale of non-controlling interest in TSB (note 27)
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
– 
   
– 
 
(171)
Exchange and other
 
– 
   
– 
 
– 
 
(3)
   
(3)
 
– 
At 31 December 2014
 
17,281 
   
(67)
 
1,139 
 
12,144 
   
13,216 
 
5,692 
                             
 
 
22.         Other equity instruments

   
£m 
At 1 January 2014
 
− 
Additional Tier 1 securities issued in the year:
   
Sterling notes (£3,725 million nominal)
 
3,725 
Euro notes (€750 million nominal)
 
622 
US dollar notes ($1,675 million nominal)
 
1,008 
At 31 December 2014
 
5,355 

On 6 March 2014 the Group announced concurrent Sterling, Euro and Dollar exchange offers for holders of certain series of its Enhanced Capital Notes (ECNs) to exchange them for new Additional Tier 1 (AT1) securities. The exchange offers completed in April 2014 and resulted in a total of £5,355 million of AT1 securities being issued; after issue costs of £21 million, net of tax, have been charged to retained profits.

The AT1 securities are Fixed Rate Resetting Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities with no fixed maturity or redemption date.

The principal terms of the AT1 securities are described below:

·  
The securities rank behind the claims against Lloyds Banking Group plc of (a) unsubordinated creditors, (b) claims which are, or are expressed to be, subordinated to the claims of unsubordinated creditors of Lloyds Banking Group plc but not further or otherwise or (c) whose claims are, or are expressed to be, junior to the claims of other creditors of Lloyds Banking Group, whether subordinated or unsubordinated, other than those whose claims rank, or are expressed to rank, pari passu with, or junior to, the claims of the holders of the AT1 Securities in a winding-up occurring prior to the Conversion Trigger.
·  
The securities bear a fixed rate of interest until the first call date. After the initial call date, in the event that they are not redeemed, the AT1 securities will bear interest at rates fixed periodically in advance for five year periods based on market rates.
·  
Interest on the securities will be due and payable only at the sole discretion of Lloyds Banking Group plc, and Lloyds Banking Group plc may at any time elect to cancel any Interest Payment (or any part thereof) which would otherwise be payable on any Interest Payment Date. There are also certain restrictions on the payment of interest as specified in the terms.
·  
The securities are undated and are repayable, at the option of Lloyds Banking Group plc, in whole at the first call date, or on any fifth anniversary after the first call date. In addition, the AT1 securities are repayable, at the option of Lloyds Banking Group plc, in whole for certain regulatory or tax reasons. Any repayments require the prior consent of the PRA.
·  
The securities convert into ordinary shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc, at a pre-determined price, should the fully loaded Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of the Group fall below 7.0 per cent.
 

23.
Provisions for liabilities and charges

Payment protection insurance
Following the unsuccessful legal challenge by the British Bankers’ Association against the Financial Services Authority (FSA) (now known as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)) and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), the Group made provisions totalling £9,825 million to 31 December 2013 against the costs of paying redress to customers in respect of past sales of PPI policies, including the related administrative expenses.

During 2014 customer initiated complaints have continued to fall, albeit slower than expected. The proactive mailings have been substantially completed and remediation of previously defended cases commenced. A further £2,200 million has been added to the provision in 2014, which brings the total amount provided to £12,025 million, of which approximately £2,520 million relates to anticipated administrative expenses.

As at 31 December 2014, £2,549 million of the provision remained unutilised (21 per cent of total provision) relative to an average monthly spend including administration costs in 2014 of approximately of £205 million. The main drivers of the provision are as follows:

Volumes of customer initiated complaints (after excluding complaints from customers where no PPI policy
was held)
At 31 December 2013, the provision assumed a total of 3.0 million complaints would be received. During 2014, complaint volumes were 22 per cent lower than 2013, but continue to be higher than expected. As a result, the Group is forecasting a slower decline in future volumes than previously expected, largely due to more sustained Claims Management Company (CMC) activity; non-CMC complaints have declined sharply. This has resulted in a further provision of approximately £1,080 million. At 31 December 2014, approximately 3 million complaints have been received, with the provision assuming approximately a further 0.6 million complaints will be received in the future.

Quarter
Average monthly reactive complaint volume
Quarter on Quarter %
     
 
Q1 2012
109,893
   
During the fourth quarter the Group has seen a fall of approximately 12 per cent in complaint levels. However, the provision remains sensitive to future trends.
 
Q2 2012
130,752
19%
 
 
Q3 2012
110,807
(15)%
 
 
Q4 2012
84,751
(24)%
 
 
Q1 2013
61,259
(28)%
 
 
Q2 2013
54,086
(12)%
 
 
Q3 2013
49,555
(8)%
 
 
Q4 2013
37,457
(24)%
 
 
Q1 2014
42,259
13%
 
 
Q2 2014
39,426
(7)%
 
 
Q3 2014
40,624
3%
 
 
Q4 2014
35,910
(12)%
 

Proactive mailing resulting from Past Business Reviews (PBR)
The Group is proactively mailing customers where it has been identified that there was a risk of potential mis-sale. At 31 December 2014 mailing of the original scope has been completed. During 2014, as a result of ongoing monitoring, some limited additional mailings have been added to the PBR scope. In addition, PBR responses to mailings have been higher than expected resulting in a further provision for PBR of approximately £300 million added during 2014.
 

23.
Provisions for liabilities and charges (continued)

Uphold rates
Uphold rates have increased following changes to the complaint handling policy. The impact to date and going forward resulted in a £110 million increase to the provision.

Average redress
Average redress per policy has increased, reversing the trend seen in the first three quarters of 2014. This higher level is expected to continue going forward and has resulted in an additional provision for the year of £40 million.

Re-review of previously handled cases
Approximately 0.6 million cases were included within the scope of remediation at 31 December 2013. These largely related to previously defended complaints which are being reviewed again to ensure consistency with the current complaint handling policy, now in operation. This exercise has commenced and is expected to be substantially complete by the end of June 2015, albeit with payments made in the second half of 2015 for some cases. The Group expects to uphold more of these cases due to the recent increase in uphold rates. Further cases have also been added to the remediation scope and relate to previously upheld cases. These cases have previously received redress and may receive a top-up payment. Given the increase in uphold rates and additional volumes to the scope, this has resulted in a further provision for the year of £250 million.

Expenses
The Group expects to maintain the PPI operation on its current scale for longer than previously expected given the update to volume related assumptions and the re-review of previously handled cases continuing into 2015. The estimate for administrative expenses, which comprise litigation and complaint handling costs as well as costs arising from cases subsequently referred to the FOS, has increased by approximately £420 million in 2014.

An Enforcement team of the FCA is investigating the Group’s governance of third party suppliers and potential failings in the PPI complaint handling process. This investigation is ongoing and it is not possible at this stage to make any assessment of what, if any, additional liability may result from the investigation, although the administration costs of supporting the investigation have been provided for previously.

The Group estimates that it has sold approximately 16 million policies since 2000. These include policies that were not mis-sold as they were suitable for, and appropriately disclosed to, the customer. Since the commencement of the PPI redress programme in 2011 the Group estimates that it has contacted, settled or provided for approximately 45 per cent of the policies sold since 2000, covering both customer-initiated complaints and actual and expected proactive mailings undertaken by the Group.

The total amount provided for PPI represents the Group’s best estimate of the likely future costs, albeit a number of risks and uncertainties remain, including complaint volumes, uphold rates, average redress paid, the scope and cost of proactive mailings and remediation, litigation costs and the outcome of the FCA Enforcement investigation. The cost of these factors could differ materially from the Group’s estimates and the assumptions underpinning them and could result in a further provision being required.
 
 
23.
Provisions for liabilities and charges (continued)

Key metrics and sensitivities are highlighted in the table below:

Sensitivities1
To date unless 
noted 
Future 
Sensitivity 
       
Customer initiated complaints since origination (m)2
3.0 
0.6 
0.1 = £230m 
Proactive Mailing: – number of policies (m)3
2.7 
0.1 
0.1 = £45m 
                             – response rate4
34% 
30% 
1% = £3m 
Average uphold rate per policy5
85% 
80% 
1% = £12m 
Average redress per upheld policy6
£1,700 
£1,790 
£100 = £90m 
Remediation Cases (m) 7
0.2 
1.0 
1 case = £600 
Administrative expenses (£m)
2,035 
485 
1 case = £500 
FOS Referral Rate8
40% 
40% 
1% = £3m 
FOS Change Rate9
58% 
30% 
1% = £2m 

1
All sensitivities exclude claims where no PPI policy was held.
2
Sensitivity includes complaint handling costs, and has increased as a result of higher uphold rates and a shift towards older policies.
3
To date volume includes customer initiated complaints.
4
Metric has been adjusted to include mature mailings only. Future response rates are expected to be lower than experienced to date as mailings to higher risk customers have been prioritised. The sensitivity has reduced from the half year as the higher risk population continues to decrease.
5
The percentage of complaints where the Group finds in favour of the customer. This is a blend of proactive and customer initiated complaints. The 85 per cent uphold rate is based on six months to December 2014. The lower uphold rate in the future reflects a lower proportion of PBR related cases which typically have a higher uphold rate, reflecting the higher risk nature of those policy sales.
6
The amount that is paid in redress in relation to a policy found to have been mis-sold, comprising, where applicable, the refund of premium, compound interest charged and interest at 8 per cent per annum. Actuals are based on the six months to December 2014. The increase in future average redress is influenced by fewer PBR policies due to the maturity of the PBR mailing. The increase is also due to a shift in the reactive complaint mix towards older, and therefore more expensive, policies.
7
Remediation to date is based on cases reviewed as at 31 December 2014, but not necessarily settled and also includes a small portion relating to previously upheld complaints. The average cost included in the sensitivity is based on all cases included within the remediation scope, and is therefore a weighted average of full payments, top-up payments on previously upheld cases, and nil payouts where the original decision is retained.
8
The percentage of cases reviewed by the Group that are subsequently referred to the FOS by the customer. A complaint is considered mature when six months have elapsed since initial decision. Actuals are based on decisions made by the Group during January 2014 to June 2014 and subsequently referred to the FOS.
9
The percentage of complaints referred where the FOS arrive at a different decision to the Group. Actuals are based on the six months to December 2014. The overturn rate to date is high as it continues to include a significant number of cases assessed prior to the implementation of changes to the case review process during 2013.

The provision remains sensitive to future trends; as an example, were reactive complaint levels in the first two quarters of 2015 to remain broadly in line with the fourth quarter of 2014 then the revised modelled total complaints and associated administration costs would increase the provision by approximately £700 million.
 
 
23.
Provisions for liabilities and charges (continued)

Other regulatory provisions
Litigation in relation to insurance branch business in Germany
Clerical Medical Investment Group Limited (CMIG) has received a number of claims in the German courts relating to policies issued by CMIG but sold by independent intermediaries in Germany, principally during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Following decisions in July 2012 from the Federal Court of Justice in Germany the Group recognised provisions totalling £400 million in 2012 and 2013. Volumes of claims have not decreased as quickly as expected and as a result the Group has recognised a further £120 million during 2014 bringing the total provision to £520 million. The remaining unutilised provision as at 31 December 2014 is £199 million.

The validity of the claims facing CMIG depends upon the facts and circumstances in respect of each claim. As a result the ultimate financial effect, which could be significantly different from the current provision, will only be known once all relevant claims have been resolved.

LIBOR and other trading rates
During 2014 the Group charged £225 million to the income statement in respect of this matter. In July, the Group announced that it had reached settlements totalling £217 million (at 30 June 2014 exchange rates) to resolve with UK and US federal authorities legacy issues regarding the manipulation several years ago of Group companies’ submissions to the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and Sterling Repo Rate.

On LIBOR, the Group has reached settlements with the FCA in the United Kingdom, the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in relation to investigations into submissions between May 2006 and 2009 and related systems and controls failings.

The settlements in relation to LIBOR are part of an industry-wide investigation into the setting of interbank offered rates across a range of currencies. Under the settlement, the Group has paid £35 million, £62 million and £50 million to the FCA, CFTC and DOJ respectively. As part of the settlement with the DOJ, the Group has also entered into a two-year Deferred Prosecution Agreement in relation to one count of wire fraud relating to the setting of LIBOR.

In relation to the BBA Sterling Repo Rate, the Group has reached a settlement with the FCA regarding submissions made between April 2008 and September 2009. This issue involved four individuals who the FCA has concluded manipulated BBA Repo Rate submissions to reduce fees payable under the Special Liquidity Scheme (SLS). The issue was proactively brought to the FCA’s attention when it was identified by the Group as part of its internal investigation into the LIBOR issues.

The Group has paid £70 million to the FCA in connection with the resolution of the BBA Repo Rate issue and related systems and controls failings. Both the CFTC and DOJ settlements are in respect of LIBOR only and neither agency has taken action regarding the BBA Repo Rate.

The BBA Repo Rate was used by the Bank of England (BoE) to calculate the fees for the SLS. During the period that Lloyds TSB and HBOS used the SLS they paid £1,278 million in fees, just under half of all the fees payable by the industry under the Scheme. As a result of the actions of the four individuals involved, the Group has paid nearly £8 million to compensate the BoE for amounts underpaid (by Lloyds TSB and HBOS and the other banks that used
the SLS).
 
 
23.
Provisions for liabilities and charges (continued)

Interest rate hedging products
In June 2012, a number of banks, including the Group, reached agreement with the FSA (now FCA) to carry out a review of sales made since 1 December 2001 of interest rate hedging products (IRHP) to certain small and medium-sized businesses. As at 31 December 2014 the Group had identified 1,676 sales of IRHPs to customers within scope of the agreement with the FCA which have opted in and are being reviewed and, where appropriate, redressed. The Group agreed that on conclusion of this review it would provide redress to any in-scope customers where appropriate. The Group continues to review the remaining cases within the scope of the agreement with the FCA but has met all of the regulator’s requirements to date.

During 2014, the Group has charged a further £150 million in respect of estimated redress costs, increasing the total amount provided for redress and related administration costs for in-scope customers to £680 million (31 December 2013: £530 million). This increase relates to an extension in the timetable for customers being able to opt-in to the review and the volume and complexity of claims. As at 31 December 2014, the Group has utilised £571 million (31 December 2013: £162 million), with £109 million (31 December 2013: £368 million) of the provision remaining.

Other legal actions and regulatory matters
In the course of its business, the Group is engaged in discussions with the PRA, FCA and other UK and overseas regulators and other governmental authorities on a range of matters. The Group also receives complaints and claims from customers in connection with its past conduct and, where significant, provisions are held against the costs expected to be incurred as a result of the conclusions reached. In 2014 the provision was increased by a further £430 million, in respect of a number of matters affecting the Retail, Commercial Banking and Consumer Finance divisions, including potential claims and remediation in respect of products sold through the branch network and continuing investigation of matters highlighted through industry-wide regulatory reviews, as well as legacy product sales and historical systems and controls such as those governing legacy incentive schemes. This brings the total amount charged to £730 million of which £209 million had been utilised at 31 December 2014. This increase reflected the Group's assessment of a limited number of matters under discussion, none of which currently is individually considered financially material in the context of the Group.
 
 
24.
Contingent liabilities and commitments

Interchange fees
On 11 September 2014, the European Court of Justice (the ECJ) upheld the European Commission’s 2007 decision that an infringement of EU competition law had arisen from arrangements whereby MasterCard issuers charged a uniform fallback multilateral interchange fee (MIF) in respect of cross-border transactions in relation to the use of a MasterCard or Maestro branded payment card.

In parallel:
·  
the European Commission has proposed legislation to regulate interchange fees which continues through the EU legislative process. A political agreement has been reached between the European Parliament and the Council and the legislation is expected to be adopted and come into force in the second quarter of 2015 with certain articles applying six months or a year after that (the adoption and entry into force dates remain subject to change);
·  
the European Commission has adopted commitments proposed by VISA to settle an investigation into VISA’s cross-border interchange arrangements and aspects of its scheme rules . VISA has, amongst other things, agreed to reduce the level of interchange fees for cross-border card transactions to: 30 basis points (for credit) and 20 basis points (for debit). VISA has also changed a number of its rules in relation to cross-border acquiring. MasterCard unilaterally undertook, amongst other things, to reduce the level of cross-border interchange fees to the same levels as agreed between the Commission and Visa;
·  
the Commission also continues to pursue other competition investigations into MasterCard and Visa probing, amongst other things, interchange paid in respect of cards issued outside the EEA;
·  
litigation continues in the English High Court against both Visa and MasterCard. This litigation has been brought by several retailers who are seeking damages for allegedly ‘overpaid’ MIFs;
·  
the new UK payments regulator may exercise its powers, when these come in to force (in April 2015), to regulate domestic interchange fees. In November 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA) announced that it would not reopen the investigation into domestic interchange levels at this time following MasterCard's agreement to introduce a phased reduction of domestic interchange rates commencing in April 2015. In addition, the FCA has started a market study in relation to the UK credit cards market.

The ultimate impact on the Group of the above investigations, regulatory or legislative developments and the litigation against VISA and MasterCard can only be known at the conclusion of these matters.

LIBOR and other trading rates
As set out in more detail in note 23, on 28 July 2014, the Group announced that it had reached settlements totalling £217 million (at 30 June 2014 exchange rates) to resolve with UK and US federal authorities legacy issues regarding the manipulation several years ago of Group companies’ submissions to the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and Sterling Repo Rate. The settlements in relation to LIBOR are part of an
industry-wide investigation into the setting of interbank offered rates across a range of currencies.

The Group continues to cooperate with various other government and regulatory authorities, including the Serious Fraud Office, the European and Swiss Competition Commissions, and a number of US State Attorneys General, in conjunction with their investigations into submissions made by panel members to the bodies that set LIBOR and various other interbank offered rates.

Certain Group companies, together with other panel banks, have also been named as defendants in private lawsuits, including purported class action suits, in the US in connection with their roles as panel banks contributing to the setting of US Dollar and Japanese Yen LIBOR. The claims have been asserted by plaintiffs claiming to have had an interest in various types of financial instruments linked to US Dollar and Japanese Yen LIBOR. The allegations in these cases, the majority of which have been coordinated for pre-trial purposes in multi-district litigation proceedings (MDL) in the US Federal Court for the Southern District of New York (the ‘District Court’), are substantially similar to each other. The lawsuits allege violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), as well as various state statutes and common law doctrines. Certain of the plaintiffs’ claims have been dismissed by the District Court.
 
 
24.
Contingent liabilities and commitments (continued)

The Group is also reviewing its activities in relation to the setting of certain foreign exchange daily benchmark rates and related matters, following the FCA’s publicised initiation of an investigation into other financial institutions in relation to this activity. The Group is co-operating with the FCA and other regulators and is providing information about the Group’s review to those regulators. In addition, the Group, together with a number of other banks, was named as a defendant in several actions filed in the District Court between late 2013 and February 2014, in which the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants manipulated WM/Reuters foreign exchange rates in violation of US antitrust laws. On 31 March 2014, plaintiffs effectively withdrew their claims against the Group (but not against all defendants) by filing a superseding consolidated and amended pleading against a number of other defendants without naming any Group entity as a defendant.

It is currently not possible to predict the scope and ultimate outcome on the Group of the various outstanding regulatory investigations not encompassed by the settlements, any private lawsuits or any related challenges to the interpretation or validity of any of the Group’s contractual arrangements, including their timing and scale.

UK shareholder litigation
In August 2014, the Group and a number of former directors were named as defendants in a claim filed in the English High Court by a number of claimants who held shares in Lloyds TSB Group plc (LTSB) prior to the acquisition of HBOS plc, alleging breaches of fiduciary and tortious duties in relation to information provided to shareholders in connection with the acquisition and the recapitalisation of LTSB. The claim is at an early stage and so it is currently not possible to determine the ultimate impact on the Group (if any), but it intends to defend the claim vigorously.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the UK’s independent statutory compensation fund of last resort for customers of authorised financial services firms and pays compensation if a firm is unable or likely to be unable to pay claims against it. The FSCS is funded by levies on the authorised financial services industry. Each deposit-taking institution contributes towards the FSCS levies in proportion to their share of total protected deposits on 31 December of the year preceding the scheme year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Following the default of a number of deposit takers in 2008, the FSCS borrowed funds from HM Treasury to meet the compensation costs for customers of those firms. At the end of the latest FSCS scheme year (31 March 2014), the principal balance outstanding on these loans was £16,591 million (31 March 2013: £17,246 million). Although the substantial majority of this loan will be repaid from funds the FSCS receives from asset sales, surplus cash flow or other recoveries in relation to the assets of the firms that defaulted, any shortfall will be funded by deposit-taking participants of the FSCS. The amount of future levies payable by the Group depends on a number of factors including the amounts recovered by the FSCS from asset sales, the Group’s participation in the deposit-taking market at 31 December, the level of protected deposits and the population of deposit-taking participants.

Investigation into Bank of Scotland and report on HBOS
The FSA’s enforcement investigation into Bank of Scotland plc’s Corporate division between 2006 and 2008 concluded with the publication of a Final Notice on 9 March 2012. No financial penalty was imposed on the Group or Bank of Scotland plc. On 12 September 2012 the FSA confirmed it was starting work on a public interest report on HBOS. That report is now being produced as a joint PRA / FCA report. Although the Terms of Reference for the HBOS review (issued on 11 July 2014) stated an aim to publish the final report by the end of 2014, the report has not yet been published.
 
 
24.
Contingent liabilities and commitments (continued)

US-Swiss tax programme
The US Department of Justice (the DOJ) and the Swiss Federal Department of Finance announced on 29 August 2013 a programme (the Programme) for Swiss banks to obtain resolution concerning their status in connection with on-going investigations by the DOJ into individuals and entities that use foreign (i.e. non-US) bank accounts to evade US taxes and reporting requirements, and individuals and entities that facilitate or have facilitated the evasion of such taxes and reporting requirements. Swiss banks that chose to participate notified the DOJ of their election to categorise their relevant banking operations according to one of a number of defined categories under the Programme.

The Group carried out private banking operations in Switzerland with assets under management of approximately £7 billion. Those operations were sold in November 2013. Therefore, as a protective measure, in December 2013 the Group notified the DOJ of its intent to participate in the Programme. Having completed due diligence under the terms of the Programme, the Group has concluded that its further participation in the Programme is not warranted and it has communicated to the DOJ its decision to withdraw from the Programme.

Tax authorities
The Group provides for potential tax liabilities that may arise on the basis of the amounts expected to be paid to tax authorities. This includes open matters where Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) adopt a different interpretation and application of tax law which might lead to additional tax. The Group has an open matter in relation to a claim for group relief of losses incurred in its former Irish banking subsidiary, which ceased trading on 31 December 2010. In the second half of 2013 HMRC informed the Group that their interpretation of the UK rules, permitting the offset of such losses, denies the claim; if HMRC’s position is found to be correct management estimate that this would result in an increase in current tax liabilities of approximately £600 million and a reduction in the Group’s deferred tax asset of approximately £400 million. The Group does not agree with HMRC's position and, having taken appropriate advice, does not consider that this is a case where additional tax will ultimately fall due.

Residential mortgage repossessions
In August 2014, the Northern Ireland High Court handed down judgment in favour of the borrowers in relation to three residential mortgage test cases, concerning certain aspects of the Group’s practice with respect to the recalculation of contractual monthly instalments of customers in arrears. The Group is reviewing the issues raised by the judgment and will respond as appropriate to any investigations or proceedings that may in due course by instigated as a result of these issues.

Other legal actions and regulatory matters
In addition, during the ordinary course of business the Group is subject to other complaints and threatened or actual legal proceedings (including class or group action claims) brought by or on behalf of employees, customers, investors or other third parties, as well as regulatory reviews, challenges, investigations and enforcement actions, both in the UK and overseas. All such material matters are periodically reassessed, with the assistance of external professional advisers where appropriate, to determine the likelihood of the Group incurring a liability. In those instances where it is concluded that it is more likely than not that a payment will be made, a provision is established to management's best estimate of the amount required at the relevant balance sheet date. In some cases it will not be possible to form a view, for example because the facts are unclear or because further time is needed properly to assess the merits of the case, and no provisions are held in relation to such matters. However the Group does not currently expect the final outcome of any such case to have a material adverse effect on its financial position, operations or cash flows.
 
 
24.
Contingent liabilities and commitments (continued)

Contingent liabilities and commitments arising from the banking business
   
At 
31 December 
2014 
 
At 
31 December 
2013 
   
£m 
 
£m 
         
Contingent liabilities
       
Acceptances and endorsements
 
59 
 
204 
Other:
       
Other items serving as direct credit substitutes
 
330 
 
710 
Performance bonds and other transaction-related contingencies
 
2,293 
 
1,966 
   
2,623 
 
2,676 
Total contingent liabilities
 
2,682 
 
2,880 
         
Commitments
       
Documentary credits and other short-term trade-related transactions
 
101 
 
54 
Forward asset purchases and forward deposits placed
 
162 
 
440 
         
Undrawn formal standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend:
       
Less than 1 year original maturity:
       
Mortgage offers made
 
8,809 
 
9,559 
Other commitments
 
64,015 
 
55,002 
   
72,824 
 
64,561 
1 year or over original maturity
 
34,455 
 
40,616 
Total commitments
 
107,542 
 
105,671 

Of the amounts shown above in respect of undrawn formal standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend, £55,029 million (31 December 2013: £56,292 million) was irrevocable.

25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities

The valuations of financial instruments have been classified into three levels according to the quality and reliability of information used to determine those fair values.

Level 1 portfolios
Level 1 fair value measurements are those derived from unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Products classified as level 1 predominantly comprise equity shares, treasury bills and other government securities.

Level 2 portfolios
Level 2 valuations are those where quoted market prices are not available, for example where the instrument is traded in a market that is not considered to be active or valuation techniques are used to determine fair value and where these techniques use inputs that are based significantly on observable market data. Examples of such financial instruments include most over-the-counter derivatives, financial institution issued securities, certificates of deposit and certain
asset-backed securities.

Level 3 portfolios
Level 3 portfolios are those where at least one input which could have a significant effect on the instrument’s valuation is not based on observable market data. Such instruments would include the Group’s venture capital and unlisted equity investments which are valued using various valuation techniques that require significant management judgement in determining appropriate assumptions, including earnings multiples and estimated future cash flows. Certain of the Group’s asset-backed securities and derivatives, principally where there is no trading activity in such securities, are also classified as level 3.
 

25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

Valuation control framework
Key elements of the valuation control framework, which covers processes for all levels in the fair value hierarchy including level 3 portfolios, include model validation (incorporating pre-trade and post-trade testing), product implementation review and independent price verification. Formal committees meet quarterly to discuss and approve valuations in more judgemental areas.

Transfers into and out of level 3 portfolios
Transfers out of level 3 portfolios arise when inputs that could have a significant impact on the instrument’s valuation become market observable; conversely, transfers into the portfolios arise when consistent sources of data cease to be available.

Valuation methodology
For level 2 and level 3 portfolios, there is no significant change to what was disclosed in the Group’s 2013 Annual Report and Accounts in respect of the valuation methodology (techniques and inputs) applied to such portfolios.

The table below summarises the carrying values of financial assets and liabilities presented on the Group’s balance sheet. The fair values presented in the table are at a specific date and may be significantly different from the amounts which will actually be paid or received on the maturity or settlement date.

   
31 December 2014
 
31 December 20131
   
Carrying 
value 
 
Fair 
value 
 
Carrying 
value 
 
Fair 
value 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
Financial assets
               
Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
 
151,931 
 
151,931 
 
142,683 
 
142,683 
Derivative financial instruments
 
36,128 
 
36,128 
 
30,804 
 
30,804 
Loans and receivables:
               
Loans and advances to banks
 
26,155 
 
26,031 
 
25,365 
 
25,296 
Loans and advances to customers
 
482,704 
 
480,631 
 
492,952 
 
484,166 
Debt securities
 
1,213 
 
1,100 
 
1,355 
 
1,251 
Available-for-sale financial instruments
 
56,493 
 
56,493 
 
43,976 
 
43,976 
Financial liabilities
               
Deposits from banks
 
10,887 
 
10,902 
 
13,982 
 
14,101 
Customer deposits
 
447,067 
 
450,038 
 
439,467 
 
440,011 
Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
 
62,102 
 
62,102 
 
43,625 
 
43,625 
Derivative financial instruments
 
33,187 
 
33,187 
 
27,658 
 
27,658 
Debt securities in issue
 
76,233 
 
80,244 
 
87,102 
 
90,803 
Liabilities arising from non-participating investment contracts
 
27,248 
 
27,248 
 
27,590 
 
27,590 
Financial guarantees
 
51 
 
51 
 
50 
 
50 
Subordinated liabilities
 
26,042 
 
30,175 
 
32,312 
 
34,449 

1
See note 1.

The carrying amount of the following financial instruments is a reasonable approximation of fair value: cash and balances at central banks, items in the course of collection from banks, items in course of transmission to banks and notes in circulation.

The Group manages valuation adjustments for its derivative exposures on a net basis; the Group determines their fair values on the basis of their net exposures. In all other cases, fair values of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are determined on the basis of their gross exposures.
 
 
25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

The following table provides an analysis of the financial assets and liabilities of the Group that are carried at fair value in the Group’s consolidated balance sheet, grouped into levels 1 to 3 based on the degree to which the fair value is observable.

 
Valuation hierarchy
   
Level 1 
 
Level 2 
 
Level 3 
 
Total 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
At 31 December 2014
               
Trading and other financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss:
               
Loans and advances to customers
 
− 
 
28,513 
 
− 
 
28,513 
Loans and advances to banks
 
− 
 
8,212 
 
− 
 
8,212 
Debt securities:
               
Government securities
 
23,950 
 
1,523 
 
− 
 
25,473 
Other public sector securities
 
− 
 
781 
 
1,389 
 
2,170 
Bank and building society certificates of deposit
 
− 
 
554 
 
− 
 
554 
Asset-backed securities:
               
Mortgage-backed securities
 
24 
 
963 
 
47 
 
1,034 
Other asset-backed securities
 
 
849 
 
− 
 
850 
Corporate and other debt securities
 
255 
 
19,814 
 
2,021 
 
22,090 
   
24,230 
 
24,484 
 
3,457 
 
52,171 
Equity shares
 
59,607 
 
322 
 
1,647 
 
61,576 
Treasury and other bills
 
1,459 
 
− 
 
− 
 
1,459 
Total trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
 
85,296 
 
61,531 
 
5,104 
 
151,931 
Available-for-sale financial assets:
               
Debt securities:
               
Government securities
 
47,402 
 
− 
 
− 
 
47,402 
Bank and building society certificates of deposit
 
− 
 
298 
 
− 
 
298 
Asset-backed securities:
               
Mortgage-backed securities
 
− 
 
674 
 
− 
 
674 
Other asset-backed securities
 
− 
 
685 
 
− 
 
685 
Corporate and other debt securities
 
35 
 
5,494 
 
− 
 
5,529 
   
47,437 
 
7,151 
 
− 
 
54,588 
Equity shares
 
45 
 
727 
 
270 
 
1,042 
Treasury and other bills
 
852 
 
11 
 
− 
 
863 
Total available-for-sale financial assets
 
48,334 
 
7,889 
 
270 
 
56,493 
Derivative financial instruments
 
94 
 
33,263 
 
2,771 
 
36,128 
Total financial assets carried at fair value
 
133,724 
 
102,683 
 
8,145 
 
244,552 
Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value
through profit or loss
               
Liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
 
− 
 
6,739 
 
 
6,744 
Trading liabilities:
               
Liabilities in respect of securities sold under repurchase agreements
 
− 
 
50,007 
 
− 
 
50,007 
Short positions in securities
 
2,700 
 
519 
 
− 
 
3,219 
Other
 
− 
 
2,132 
 
− 
 
2,132 
   
2,700 
 
52,658 
 
− 
 
55,358 
Total trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
 
2,700 
 
59,397 
 
 
62,102 
Derivative financial instruments
 
68 
 
31,663 
 
1,456 
 
33,187 
Financial guarantees
 
− 
 
− 
 
51 
 
51 
Total financial liabilities carried at fair value
 
2,768
 
91,060 
 
1,512 
 
95,340 

There were no transfers between level 1 and level 2 during the year.
 

25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

 
Valuation hierarchy
   
Level 1 
 
Level 2 
 
Level 3 
 
Total 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
At 31 December 20131
               
Trading and other financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss:
               
Loans and advances to customers
 
– 
 
21,110 
 
– 
 
21,110 
Loans and advances to banks
 
– 
 
8,333 
 
– 
 
8,333 
Debt securities:
               
Government securities
 
20,191 
 
498 
 
– 
 
20,689 
Other public sector securities
 
– 
 
1,312 
 
885 
 
2,197 
Bank and building society certificates of deposit
 
– 
 
1,491 
 
– 
 
1,491 
Asset-backed securities:
               
Mortgage-backed securities
 
30 
 
768 
 
– 
 
798 
Other asset-backed securities
 
171 
 
756 
 
– 
 
927 
Corporate and other debt securities
 
244 
 
18,689 
 
1,687 
 
20,620 
   
20,636 
 
23,514 
 
2,572 
 
46,722 
Equity shares
 
64,690 
 
53 
 
1,660 
 
66,403 
Treasury and other bills
 
 
108 
 
– 
 
115 
Total trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
 
85,333 
 
53,118 
 
4,232 
 
142,683 
Available-for-sale financial assets:
               
Debt securities:
               
Government securities
 
38,262 
 
28 
 
– 
 
38,290 
Bank and building society certificates of deposit
 
– 
 
208 
 
– 
 
208 
Asset-backed securities:
               
Mortgage-backed securities
 
– 
 
1,263 
 
– 
 
1,263 
Other asset-backed securities
 
– 
 
841 
 
74 
 
915 
Corporate and other debt securities
 
56 
 
1,799 
 
– 
 
1,855 
   
38,318 
 
4,139 
 
74 
 
42,531 
Equity shares
 
48 
 
147 
 
375 
 
570 
Treasury and other bills
 
852 
 
23 
 
– 
 
875 
Total available-for-sale financial assets
 
39,218 
 
4,309 
 
449 
 
43,976 
Derivative financial instruments
 
235 
 
27,550 
 
3,019 
 
30,804 
Total financial assets carried at fair value
 
124,786 
 
84,977 
 
7,700 
 
217,463 
Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value
through profit or loss
               
Liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
 
– 
 
5,267 
 
39 
 
5,306 
Trading liabilities:
               
Liabilities in respect of securities sold under repurchase agreements
 
– 
 
28,902 
 
– 
 
28,902 
Short positions in securities
 
6,473 
 
417 
 
– 
 
6,890 
Other
 
– 
 
2,527 
 
– 
 
2,527 
   
6,473 
 
31,846 
 
– 
 
38,319 
Total trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
 
6,473 
 
37,113 
 
39 
 
43,625 
Derivative financial instruments
 
119 
 
26,553 
 
986 
 
27,658 
Financial guarantees
 
– 
 
– 
 
50 
 
50 
Total financial liabilities carried at fair value
 
6,592 
 
63,666 
 
1,075 
 
71,333 

1
See note 1.
 

25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

Movements in level 3 portfolio
The tables below analyse movements in the level 3 financial assets portfolio.

 
Trading 
and other 
financial 
assets at fair 
value through 
profit or loss 
 
Available- 
for-sale 
financial 
assets 
 
Derivative 
assets 
 
Total 
financial 
assets 
carried at 
fair value 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
At 1 January 2014
 
4,232 
 
449 
 
3,019 
 
7,700 
Exchange and other adjustments
 
 
(7)
 
(11)
 
(13)
Gains recognised in the income statement within other income
 
579 
 
− 
 
755 
 
1,334 
Gains recognised in other comprehensive income within the revaluation reserve in respect of available-for-sale financial assets
 
− 
 
(61)
 
− 
 
(61)
Purchases
 
552 
 
229 
 
68 
 
849 
Sales
 
(587)
 
(266)
 
(154)
 
(1,007)
Derecognised pursuant to exchange and retail tender offers in respect of Enhanced Capital Notes
 
− 
 
− 
 
(967)
 
(967)
Transfers into the level 3 portfolio
 
708 
 
− 
 
114 
 
822 
Transfers out of the level 3 portfolio
 
(385)
 
(74)
 
(53)
 
(512)
At 31 December 2014
 
5,104 
 
270 
 
2,771 
 
8,145 
Gains recognised in the income statement within other income relating to those assets held at 31 December 2014
 
547 
 
− 
 
755 
 
1,302 

 
Trading 
and other 
financial 
assets at fair 
value through 
profit or loss 
 
Available- 
for-sale 
financial 
assets 
 
Derivative 
assets 
 
Total 
financial 
assets 
carried at 
fair value 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
At 1 January 2013
 
3,306 
 
567 
 
2,358 
 
6,231 
Exchange and other adjustments
 
21 
 
15 
 
 
38 
Gains recognised in the income statement within other income
 
296 
 
− 
 
144 
 
440 
Gains recognised in other comprehensive income within the revaluation reserve in respect of available-for-sale financial assets
 
− 
 
40 
 
− 
 
40 
Purchases
 
582 
 
43 
 
271 
 
896 
Sales
 
(631)
 
(224)
 
(102)
 
(957)
Transfers into the level 3 portfolio
 
995 
 
12 
 
354 
 
1,361 
Transfers out of the level 3 portfolio
 
(337)
 
(4)
 
(8)
 
(349)
At 31 December 2013
 
4,232 
 
449 
 
3,019 
 
7,700 
Gains recognised in the income statement within other income relating to those assets held at 31 December 2013
 
70 
 
− 
 
159 
 
229 
 
 
25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

Movements in level 3 portfolio
The tables below analyse movements in the level 3 financial liabilities portfolio.

 
Trading and 
other financial 
liabilities 
at fair value 
through profit 
or loss 
 
Derivative 
liabilities 
 
Financial 
guarantees 
 
Total 
financial 
liabilities 
carried at 
fair value 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
At 1 January 2014
 
39 
 
986 
 
50 
 
1,075 
Exchange and other adjustments
 
− 
 
(4)
 
− 
 
(4)
(Gains) losses recognised in the income statement
within other income
 
(5)
 
375 
 
 
371 
Additions
 
− 
 
59 
 
− 
 
59 
Redemptions
 
(29)
 
(66)
 
− 
 
(95)
Transfers into the level 3 portfolio
 
− 
 
110 
 
− 
 
110 
Transfers out of the level 3 portfolio
 
− 
 
(4)
 
− 
 
(4)
At 31 December 2014
 
 
1,456 
 
51 
 
1,512 
Gains (losses) recognised in the income statement within other income relating to those liabilities held at 31 December 2014
 
− 
 
376 
 
 
377 

 
Trading and 
other financial 
liabilities 
at fair value 
through profit 
or loss 
 
Derivative 
liabilities 
 
Financial 
guarantees 
 
Total 
financial 
liabilities 
carried at 
fair value 
   
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
                 
At 1 January 2013
 
– 
 
543 
 
48 
 
591 
Exchange and other adjustments
 
– 
 
 
– 
 
(Gains) losses recognised in the income statement within other income
 
10 
 
(30)
 
 
(17)
Additions
 
29 
 
262 
 
– 
 
291 
Redemptions
 
– 
 
(29)
 
(1)
 
(30)
Transfers into the level 3 portfolio
 
– 
 
233 
 
– 
 
233 
Transfers out of the level 3 portfolio
 
– 
 
(1)
 
– 
 
(1)
At 31 December 2013
 
39 
 
986 
 
50 
 
1,075 
Gains (losses) recognised in the income statement within other income relating to those liabilities held at 31 December 2013
 
10 
 
(20) 
 
 
(7) 
 
 
25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

           
At 31 December 2014
               
Effect of reasonably possible alternative assumptions1
 
Valuation technique(s)
Significant unobservable inputs
 
Range2
 
Carrying 
value 
 
Favourable 
changes 
Unfavourable 
changes 
           
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
         
Debt securities
Discounted cash flow
Credit spreads (bps)
 
n/a3
 
35 
 
 
(5)
Asset-backed securities
Lead manager or broker quote
n/a
n/a 
 
65 
 
− 
 
(2)
Equity and venture capital investments
Market approach
Earnings multiple
 
4/14 
 
2,214 
 
75 
 
(75)
 
Underlying asset/net asset value (incl. property prices)4
n/a
 
n/a 
 
173 
 
26 
 
(23)
Unlisted equities
and debt securities, property
partnerships in
the life funds
Underlying asset/net asset value (incl. property prices)4
n/a
 
n/a 
 
2,617 
 
 
(2)
           
5,104 
       
Available-for-sale financial assets
               
Equity and venture capital investments
Underlying asset/net asset value (incl. property prices)4
n/a
 
n/a 
 
270 
 
10 
 
(18)
           
270 
       
Derivative financial assets
                 
Embedded equity conversion feature
Lead manager or broker quote
Equity conversion feature spread (bps)
175/432 
 
646 
 
21 
 
(21)
Interest rate
derivatives
Discounted cash flow
Inflation swap rate – funding component (bps)
 
3/167 
 
1,382 
 
17 
 
(16)
 
Option pricing model
Interest rate
volatility
 
4%/120% 
 
743 
 
 
(6)
           
2,771 
       
Financial assets carried at fair value
     
8,145 
       
Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
       
 
− 
 
− 
Derivative financial liabilities
                 
Interest rate
derivatives
Discounted cash flow
Inflation swap rate – funding component (bps)
 
3/167 
 
807 
 
− 
 
− 
 
Option pricing model
Interest rate
volatility
 
4%/120% 
 
649 
 
− 
 
− 
         
1,456 
       
Financial guarantees
       
51 
       
Financial liabilities carried at fair value
     
1,512 
       

1
Where the exposure to an unobservable input is managed on a net basis, only the net impact is shown in the table.
2
The range represents the highest and lowest inputs used in the level 3 valuations.
3
A single pricing source is used.
4
Underlying asset/net asset values represent fair value.
 
 
25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

           
At 31 December 2013
               
Effect of reasonably possible alternative assumptions1
 
Valuation technique(s)
Significant unobservable inputs
 
Range2
 
Carrying 
value 
 
Favourable 
changes 
Unfavourable 
changes 
                     
           
£m 
 
£m 
 
£m 
Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
         
Debt securities
Discounted cash flow
Credit spreads (bps)
 
n/a3
 
18 
 
 
(2)
Equity and venture capital investments
Market approach
Earnings multiple
 
0.2/14.6 
 
2,132 
 
70 
 
(70)
 
Underlying asset/net asset value (incl. property prices)4
n/a
 
n/a 
 
130 
 
17 
 
(16)
Unlisted equities
and property
partnerships in the life funds
Underlying asset/net asset value (incl. property prices)4
n/a
 
n/a 
 
1,952 
 
– 
 
– 
           
4,232 
       
Available-for-sale financial assets
               
Asset-backed
securities
Lead manager
or broker quote/consensus pricing
n/a
 
n/a 
 
74 
 
– 
 
– 
Equity and venture capital investments
Underlying asset/net asset value (incl. property prices)4
n/a
 
n/a 
 
375 
 
28 
 
(19)
           
449 
       
Derivative financial assets
                 
Embedded equity conversion feature
Lead manager or broker quote
Equity conversion feature spread (bps)
199/420 
 
1,212 
 
59 
 
(58)
Interest rate
derivatives
Discounted cash flow
Inflation swap rate – funding component (bps)
 
62/192 
 
1,461 
 
66 
 
(39)
 
Option pricing model
Interest rate
volatility
 
3%/112%
 
346 
 
 
(7)
           
3,019 
       
Financial assets carried at fair value
     
7,700 
       
Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
       
39 
 
 
(1)
Derivative financial liabilities
                 
Interest rate
derivatives
Discounted cash flow
Inflation swap rate – funding component (bps)
 
62/192 
 
754 
 
– 
 
– 
 
Option pricing model
Interest rate
volatility
 
3%/112% 
 
232 
 
– 
 
– 
         
986 
       
Financial guarantees
       
50 
       
Financial liabilities carried at fair value
     
1,075 
       

1
Where the exposure to an unobservable input is managed on a net basis, only the net impact is shown in the table.
2
The range represents the highest and lowest inputs used in the level 3 valuations.
3
A single pricing source is used.
4
Underlying asset/net asset values represent fair value.
 

25.
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities (continued)

 
Unobservable inputs
Significant unobservable inputs affecting the valuation of debt securities, unlisted equity investments and derivatives are as follows:

·  
Interest rates and inflation rates are referenced in some derivatives where the payoff that the holder of the derivative receives depends on the behaviour of those underlying references through time.
 
·  
Credit spreads represent the premium above the benchmark reference instrument required to compensate for lower credit quality; higher spreads lead to a lower fair value.
 
·  
Volatility parameters represent key attributes of option behaviour; higher volatilities typically denote a wider range of possible outcomes.
·  
Earnings multiples are used to value certain unlisted equity investments; a higher earnings multiple will result in a higher fair value.

Reasonably possible alternative assumptions
Valuation techniques applied to many of the Group’s level 3 instruments often involve the use of two or more inputs whose relationship is interdependent. The calculation of the effect of reasonably possible alternative assumptions included in the table above reflects such relationships.

 
Debt securities
Reasonably possible alternative assumptions have been determined in respect of the Group’s structured credit investment by flexing credit spreads.

 
Derivatives
Reasonably possible alternative assumptions have been determined in respect of the Group’s derivative portfolios as follows:

(i)
In respect of the embedded equity conversion feature of the Enhanced Capital Notes, the sensitivity was based on the absolute difference between the actual price of the Enhanced Capital Note and the closest, alternative broker quote available plus the impact of applying a 10 basis points increase/decrease in the market yield used to derive a market price for similar bonds without the conversion feature. The effect of interdependency of the assumptions is not material to the effect of applying reasonably possible alternative assumptions to the valuations of derivative financial instruments.
 
(ii)
Uncollateralised inflation swaps are valued using appropriate discount spreads for such transactions. These spreads are not generally observable for longer maturities. The reasonably possible alternative valuations reflect flexing of the spreads for the differing maturities to alternative values.
 
(iii)
Swaptions are priced using industry standard option pricing models. Such models require interest rate volatilities which may be unobservable at longer maturities. To derive reasonably possible alternative valuations these volatilities have been flexed within a range.

Unlisted equity, venture capital investments and investments in property partnerships
The valuation techniques used for unlisted equity and venture capital investments vary depending on the nature of the investment. Reasonably possible alternative valuations for these investments have been calculated by reference to the approach taken, as appropriate to the business sector and investment circumstances and as such the following inputs have been considered:

·  
for valuations derived from earnings multiples, consideration is given to the risk attributes, growth prospects and financial gearing of comparable businesses when selecting an appropriate multiple;
 
·  
the discount rates used in discounted cash flow valuations; and
 
·  
in line with International Private Equity and Venture Capital Guidelines, the values of underlying investments in fund investments portfolios.
 

26.
Related party transactions

UK government
In January 2009, the UK government through HM Treasury became a related party of the Company following its subscription for ordinary shares issued under a placing and open offer. As at 31 December 2014, HM Treasury held more than 20 per cent of the Company’s ordinary share capital and consequently HM Treasury remained a related party of the Company during the year ended 31 December 2014.

In accordance with IAS 24, UK government-controlled entities are related parties of the Group. The Group regards the Bank of England and entities controlled by the UK government, including The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, NRAM plc and Bradford & Bingley plc, as related parties.

The Group has participated in a number of schemes operated by the UK government and central banks and made available to eligible banks and building societies.

National Loan Guarantee Scheme
The Group has participated in the UK government’s National Loan Guarantee Scheme, which was launched on 20 March 2012. Through the scheme, the Group is providing eligible UK businesses with discounted funding, subject to continuation of the scheme and its financial benefits, and based on the Group’s existing lending criteria. Eligible businesses who have taken up the funding benefit from a 1 per cent discount on their funding rate for a pre-agreed period of time.

Business Growth Fund
In May 2011 the Group agreed, together with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (and three other non-related parties), to commit up to £300 million of equity investment by subscribing for shares in the Business Growth Fund plc which is the company created to fulfil the role of the Business Growth Fund as set out in the British Bankers’ Association’s Business Taskforce Report of October 2010. At 31 December 2014, the Group had invested £118 million (31 December 2013: £64 million) in the Business Growth Fund and carried the investment at a fair value of £105 million (31 December 2013: £52 million).

Big Society Capital
In January 2012 the Group agreed, together with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (and two other non-related parties), to commit up to £50 million each of equity investment into the Big Society Capital Fund. The Fund, which was created as part of the Project Merlin arrangements, is a UK social investment fund. The Fund was officially launched on 3 April 2012 and the Group had invested £23 million in the Fund by 31 December 2013 and invested a further £8 million during the year ended 31 December 2014.

Funding for Lending
In August 2012, the Group announced its support for the UK government's Funding for Lending Scheme and confirmed its intention to participate in the scheme. The Funding for Lending Scheme represents a further source of cost effective secured term funding available to the Group. The initiative supported a broad range of UK based customers, providing householders with more affordable housing finance and businesses with cheaper finance to invest and grow. In November 2013, the Group entered into extension letters with the Bank of England to take part in the extension of the Funding for Lending Scheme until the end of January 2015. The extension of the Funding for Lending Scheme focuses on providing businesses with cheaper finance to invest and grow. £10 billion has been drawn down under this extension. In December 2014, the Bank of England announced a further extension to the end of January 2016 with an increased focus on supporting small businesses. At 31 December 2014, the Group had drawn down £20 billion under the Funding for Lending Scheme.
 
 
26.
Related party transactions (continued)

Enterprise Finance Guarantee
The Group participates in the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme which was launched in January 2009 as a replacement for the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. The scheme is a UK government-backed loan guarantee, which supports viable businesses with access to lending where they would otherwise be refused a loan due to a lack of lending security. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (formerly the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) provides the lender with a guarantee of up to 75 per cent of the capital of each loan subject to the eligibility of the customer within the rules of the scheme. As at 31 December 2014, the Group had offered 6,250 loans to customers, worth over £500 million. The Group entities, Lloyds Bank plc, TSB Bank plc, Lloyds Commercial Finance Limited and Bank of Scotland plc contracted with The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Help to Buy
On 7 October 2013, Bank of Scotland plc entered into an agreement with The Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury by which it agreed that the Halifax Division of Bank of Scotland plc would participate in the Help to Buy Scheme with effect from 11 October 2013 and that Lloyds Bank plc would participate from 3 January 2014. The Help to Buy Scheme is a scheme promoted by the UK government and is aimed to encourage participating lenders to make mortgage loans available to customers who require higher loan-to-value mortgages. Halifax and Lloyds are currently participating in the Scheme whereby customers borrow between 90 per cent and 95 per cent of the purchase price.

In return for the payment of a commercial fee, HM Treasury has agreed to provide a guarantee to the lender to cover a proportion of any loss made by the lender arising from a higher loan-to-value loan being made. £1,950 million of outstanding loans at 31 December 2014 had been advanced under this scheme.

HM Treasury expenses
During the year ended 31 December 2014, the Group paid for expenses amounting to £1 million incurred by or on behalf of HM Treasury in connection with the sale or proposed sale of shares by HM Treasury in the Company. The expenses were incurred in accordance with the Resale Rights Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement entered into with HM Treasury in 2009. The performance by the Company of the Resale Rights Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement was approved by shareholders of the Company at the 2014 Annual General Meeting.

Central bank facilities
In the ordinary course of business, the Group may from time to time access market-wide facilities provided by central banks.

Other government-related entities
There were no significant transactions with other UK government-controlled entities (including UK government-controlled banks) during the year that were not made in the ordinary course of business or that were unusual in their nature or conditions.

Other related party transactions
On 25 June 2014 Lloyds Bank plc entered into an agreement for the exclusive provision of conveyancing panel services with United Legal Services Limited (ULS), which is a related party of the Company by virtue of ULS Technology plc, ULS’s parent, being an investee company of Lloyds Development Capital, the UK regional private equity provider which is part of the Group.

Other related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2014 are similar in nature to those for the year ended 31 December 2013.

 
27.
Disposal of a non-controlling interest in TSB Banking Group plc

During the year ended 31 December 2014, the Group disposed of three tranches of TSB Banking Group plc (TSB) shares:

(i)
in June 2014, the Group disposed of a 35 per cent interest in TSB for a consideration of £430 million, after directly attributable costs of £25 million, through an initial public offering (IPO);
(ii)
in July 2014, the Group sold 3.5 per cent of TSB for £44 million, after directly attributable costs of £1 million, through an over-allotment option which was exercised by the underwriters of the IPO; and
(iii)
in September 2014, the Group disposed of a further 11.5 per cent for a consideration of £160 million, after directly attributable costs of £1 million.

At 31 December 2014, the Group retained an interest of approximately 50 per cent in TSB, which continues to be consolidated by the Group.

As none of these transactions resulted in the Group ceding control of TSB, no gain or loss has been recognised in the Group’s income statement. The shortfall of £171 million between the net proceeds of the three sales and the share of TSB’s net assets (at book value) disposed of has been deducted from the Group’s retained earnings.


28.
Ordinary dividends

The directors have recommended a dividend, which is subject to approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, of 0.75 pence per share (2013: nil pence per share) representing a total dividend of £535 million (2013: £nil). These financial statements do not reflect this recommended dividend.
 
 
29.
Future accounting developments

The following pronouncements may have a significant effect on the Group’s financial statements but are not applicable for the year ending 31 December 2014 and have not been applied in preparing these financial statements. Save as disclosed below, the full impact of these accounting changes is being assessed by the Group.

Pronouncement
Nature of change
IASB effective date
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments1
Replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 requires financial assets to be classified into one of three measurement categories, fair value through profit or loss, fair value through other comprehensive income and amortised cost, on the basis of the objectives of the entity’s business model for managing its financial assets and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the instruments. The requirements for derecognition are broadly unchanged from IAS 39. The standard retains most of the existing requirements for financial liabilities except for those designated at fair value through profit or loss whereby that part of the fair value change attributable to the entity’s own credit risk is recorded in other comprehensive income. These changes are not expected to have a significant impact on the Group.
IFRS 9 also replaces the existing ‘incurred loss’ impairment approach with an expected credit loss approach. This change is likely to result in an increase in the Group’s balance sheet provisions for credit losses although the extent of any increase will depend upon, amongst other things, the composition of the Group’s lending portfolios and prevailing and forecast economic conditions at the date of implementation. The hedge accounting requirements of IFRS 9 are more closely aligned with risk management practices and follow a more principle-based approach than IAS 39. The revised requirements are not expected to have a significant impact on the Group.
Annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers1
Replaces IAS 18 Revenue and IAS 11 Construction Contracts. IFRS 15 establishes principles for reporting useful information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. Revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for goods and services. Financial instruments, leases and insurance contracts are out of scope and so this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the Group.
Annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017

1
As at 26 February 2015, these pronouncements are awaiting EU endorsement.


30.         Other information

The financial information included in this news release does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014 were approved by the directors on 26 February 2015 and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following publication in March 2015. The auditors’ report on those accounts was unqualified and did not include a statement under sections 498(2) (accounting records or returns inadequate or accounts not agreeing with records and returns) or 498(3) (failure to obtain necessary information and explanations) of the Companies Act 2006.

 


CONTACTS


For further information please contact:

INVESTORS AND ANALYSTS
Douglas Radcliffe
Interim Investor Relations Director
020 7356 1571
douglas.radcliffe@finance.lloydsbanking.com

Mike Butters
Director of Investor Relations
020 7356 1187
mike.butters@finance.lloydsbanking.com

Duncan Heath
Director of Investor Relations
020 7356 1585
duncan.heath@finance.lloydsbanking.com


CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Matthew Young
Group Corporate Affairs Director
020 7356 2231
matt.young@lloydsbanking.com

Ed Petter
Group Media Relations Director
020 8936 5655
ed.petter@lloydsbanking.com









Copies of this news release may be obtained from:
Investor Relations, Lloyds Banking Group plc, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN
The full news release can also be found on the Group’s website – www.lloydsbankinggroup.com.

Registered office: Lloyds Banking Group plc, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 1YZ
Registered in Scotland no. 95000



 
Signatures
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
                                                                                                                                                LLOYDS BANKING GROUP plc
                                                                                                                                                (Registrant)
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                 By: Charles King
                                                                                                                                                 Name: Charles King
 
                                     Title: Investor Relations Director
                                                                                      
                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                       
Date: 27 February 2015