Lloyds Regulatory News (LLOY)

Lloyds Banking Group plc

Q1 2018 Interim Management Statement

25 April 2018

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT

In the first three months of 2018 we have again delivered strong financial performance with increased profits and returns, a significantly reduced gap between underlying and statutory profit and a strong increase in capital. These results continue to demonstrate the strength of our business model. In March, following our 2017 results and dividends announcement, we commenced our share buyback programme of up to £1 billion.

The UK economy continues to be resilient, benefiting from low unemployment and continued GDP growth. Asset quality remains strong with no deterioration seen across the portfolio. We expect the economy to continue to perform along these lines during 2018.

In February we announced our ambitious strategy to transform the Group into a digitised, simple, low risk, customer focused UK financial services provider. We have made a strong start to 2018 and have begun implementing the strategic initiatives which will further digitise the Group, enhance customer propositions, maximise our capabilities as an integrated financial service provider and transform the way we work.

António Horta-Osório

 Group Chief Executive

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT − UNDERLYING BASIS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND KEY RATIOS

REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE

Strong financial performance with significant increase in profit and returns on a statutory and underlying basis

Statutory profit before tax was up 23 per cent at £1,602 million and profit after tax was up 29 per cent at £1,147 million, both driven by a 6 per cent increase in underlying profit to £2,004 million and lower below the line items. The statutory return on tangible equity improved 3.5 percentage points to 12.3 per cent.

Net income of £4,330 million was 4 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2017 with an 8 per cent increase in net interest income, more than offsetting a 5 per cent decrease in other income, while operating lease depreciation increased 9 per cent mainly reflecting fleet growth in Lex Autolease.

Net interest income increased by £243 million to £3,171 million, largely reflecting a 13 basis point increase in the net interest margin to 2.93 per cent driven by the benefit from MBNA and lower deposit and wholesale funding costs, more than offsetting continued asset pricing pressure. Average interest-earning assets of £437 billion were up on prior year due to targeted business growth. Other income was £1,411 million with the decrease reflecting higher weather related insurance claims, lower bulk annuity business, transaction flows in Commercial Banking and the changes to overdraft charging which took effect in November, partly offset by continued growth in the Lex Autolease business.

Operating costs at £2,008 million increased 2 per cent, reflecting MBNA. Our market leading cost:income ratio improved further to 47.8 per cent with positive jaws of 9 per cent.

Credit quality across the portfolio remains strong. The asset quality ratio increased to 23 basis points largely due to the expected lower releases and write backs, the inclusion of MBNA and the non-recurrence of debt sales realised in the first quarter of 2017. The stable gross AQR of 27 basis points includes 3 basis points for MBNA.

Restructuring of £138 million included severance costs relating to the Group's strategic investment plans, the rationalisation of the non-branch property portfolio, implementation of the ring-fencing requirements and MBNA integration costs. The increase in the volatility and other items line largely reflects the movements in equity markets and credit spreads in the quarter. The Payment Protection Insurance charge of £90 million comprises the increased costs in relation to the completion of the requirement under the Plevin ruling to proactively contact customers who have previously had their complaints defended.

Balance sheet strength maintained with strong increase in capital

Loans and advances to customers were adjusted on adoption of IFRS 9, resulting in around £11.5 billion reduction to £444 billion primarily due to the reclassification of certain assets. After this adjustment, loans and advances to customers increased slightly in the quarter to £445 billion with continued growth in targeted segments, including £0.3 billion in SME and £0.3 billion in motor finance, while the open mortgage book of £267 billion remained in line with year end 2017. The loan to deposit ratio was slightly up at 108 per cent.

The CET1 ratio has strengthened to 14.4 per cent before dividend accrual with an increase of 50 basis points in the quarter primarily driven by strong statutory profit after tax. After accruing for dividends the CET1 ratio remains strong at 14.1 per cent. The Group remains well positioned to meet its Minimum Requirement for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL) from 2020 and, as at 31 March 2018, had a transitional MREL ratio of 27.4 per cent. The UK leverage ratio reduced to 5.3 per cent. Tangible net assets per share increased to 52.3 pence after adjusting the December position for the implementation of IFRS 9.

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1. Banking net interest margin and average interest-earning banking assets

2. Return on tangible equity

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains certain forward looking statements with respect to the business, strategy, plans and /or results 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 (including but not limited to the payment of dividends) to differ materially from 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 interest rates, inflation, 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 and other benefits including, but without limitation as a result of any acquisitions, disposals and other strategic transactions; 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, instability as a result of the exit by the UK from the European Union (EU) and the potential for other countries to exit the EU or the Eurozone and the impact of any sovereign credit rating downgrade or other sovereign financial issues; technological changes and risks to the security of IT and operational infrastructure, systems, data and information resulting from increased threat of cyber and other attacks; natural, pandemic 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 the exit by the UK from the EU, or a further possible referendum on Scottish independence; 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 or courts in the UK, the EU, the US or elsewhere including the implementation and interpretation of key legislation and regulation together with any resulting impact on the future structure of the Group; the ability to attract and retain senior management and other employees and meet its diversity objectives; 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 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, lending companies and digital innovators and disruptive technologies; and exposure to regulatory or competition scrutiny, legal, regulatory or competition proceedings, 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. The information, statements and opinions contained in this document do not constitute a public offer under any applicable law or an offer to sell any securities or financial instruments or any advice or recommendation with respect to such securities or financial instruments. 

CONTACTS

For further information please contact:

INVESTORS AND ANALYSTS

Douglas Radcliffe

Group Investor Relations Director

020 7356 1571

douglas.radcliffe@lloydsbanking.com

Edward Sands

Director of Investor Relations

020 7356 1585

edward.sands@lloydsbanking.com

Nora Thoden

Director of Investor Relations

020 7356 2334

nora.thoden@lloydsbanking.com

CORPORATE AFFAIRS

Grant Ringshaw

Director of Media Relations

020 7356 2362

grant.ringshaw@lloydsbanking.com

Matt Smith

Head of Corporate Media

020 7356 3522

matt.smith@lloydsbanking.com

Copies of this interim management statement may be obtained from:

Investor Relations, Lloyds Banking Group plc, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN

The statement 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