Lloyds Banking Group plc Exhibit 1...decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in...

5
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ISSUER COMMENT 26 February 2016 Analyst Contacts Carlos Suarez Duarte 44-20-7772-1061 VP-Senior Analyst [email protected] Maija Sankauskaite 44-20-7772-1092 Associate Analyst [email protected] Michael Eberhardt, CFA 44-20-7772-8611 VP-Sr Credit Officer [email protected] Laurie Mayers 44-20-7772-5582 Associate Managing Director [email protected] Nick Hill 33-1-5330-1029 Managing Director - Banking [email protected] Lloyds Banking Group plc 2015 Results Commentary Lloyds Banking Group plc’s (LBG, Baa1 positive) full-year 2015 results show strong profit generation being offset by large conduct remediation costs. Despite the sizable conduct cost, the group reported strong capital metrics, even after incorporating the ordinary and special dividend payments. Cost of risk remains low while funding and liquidity remain solid. LBG reported statutory profit before tax of £1.6 billion, a 7% decline compared to 2014. The decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in provisions in 2015 for the mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) products, up from £2.2 billion in 2014. The group decided to take an additional £2.1 billion of PPI provisions during the fourth quarter following the proposal by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to introduce a deadline for customers to claim compensation 1 and the additional guidance on how to handle PPI complaints in which an unfair relationship might have arisen if the lender failed to disclose to the customer a commission of 50% or more of the premium amount. The total PPI provision now stands at £16 billion, of which £3.5 billion remains unutilised, and LBG calculated it should cover all future claims and related administration costs until mid-2018, assuming current FCA proposals are implemented and that customer complaints do not exceed an average of 10,000 per week. While the group reports the average volume of reactive PPI complaints reduced by 8% to 8,000 per week in 2015, we note the introduction of a deadline on claims might accelerate the complaints volume beyond the assumed levels and require additional provisions to be taken in the future. In addition to the PPI charges LBG made a £837 million provision for other conduct remediation liabilities in 2015, of which £302 million was set aside in the fourth quarter. Exhibit 1 LBG’s incurred record high conduct related costs in 2015 Source: LBG financial statements More positively, underlying profit generation remained strong. Pre-tax income, adjusted for conduct provisions, asset sales, contribution of deconsolidated TSB Banking Group plc

Transcript of Lloyds Banking Group plc Exhibit 1...decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in...

Page 1: Lloyds Banking Group plc Exhibit 1...decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in provisions in 2015 for the mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) products, up from

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

ISSUER COMMENT26 February 2016

Analyst Contacts

Carlos Suarez Duarte 44-20-7772-1061VP-Senior [email protected]

Maija Sankauskaite 44-20-7772-1092Associate [email protected]

Michael Eberhardt,CFA

44-20-7772-8611

VP-Sr Credit [email protected]

Laurie Mayers 44-20-7772-5582Associate [email protected]

Nick Hill 33-1-5330-1029Managing Director [email protected]

Lloyds Banking Group plc2015 Results Commentary

Lloyds Banking Group plc’s (LBG, Baa1 positive) full-year 2015 results show strong profitgeneration being offset by large conduct remediation costs. Despite the sizable conduct cost,the group reported strong capital metrics, even after incorporating the ordinary and specialdividend payments. Cost of risk remains low while funding and liquidity remain solid.

LBG reported statutory profit before tax of £1.6 billion, a 7% decline compared to 2014. Thedecline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in provisions in 2015 for the mis-soldpayment protection insurance (PPI) products, up from £2.2 billion in 2014. The group decidedto take an additional £2.1 billion of PPI provisions during the fourth quarter following theproposal by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to introduce a deadline for customersto claim compensation1 and the additional guidance on how to handle PPI complaints inwhich an unfair relationship might have arisen if the lender failed to disclose to the customera commission of 50% or more of the premium amount. The total PPI provision now standsat £16 billion, of which £3.5 billion remains unutilised, and LBG calculated it should coverall future claims and related administration costs until mid-2018, assuming current FCAproposals are implemented and that customer complaints do not exceed an average of10,000 per week. While the group reports the average volume of reactive PPI complaintsreduced by 8% to 8,000 per week in 2015, we note the introduction of a deadline on claimsmight accelerate the complaints volume beyond the assumed levels and require additionalprovisions to be taken in the future. In addition to the PPI charges LBG made a £837 millionprovision for other conduct remediation liabilities in 2015, of which £302 million was setaside in the fourth quarter.

Exhibit 1

LBG’s incurred record high conduct related costs in 2015

Source: LBG financial statements

More positively, underlying profit generation remained strong. Pre-tax income, adjustedfor conduct provisions, asset sales, contribution of deconsolidated TSB Banking Group plc

Page 2: Lloyds Banking Group plc Exhibit 1...decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in provisions in 2015 for the mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) products, up from

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page onwww.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

2 26 February 2016 Lloyds Banking Group plc: 2015 Results Commentary

(TSB, rated Baa3 stable) and business simplification costs, increased by 10% to £8 billion in 2015. Net interest income for the periodamounted to £11.5 billion, 5% higher year-on-year as a result of stronger net interest margin (2.63% compared to 2.40% in 2014).The redemption of LBG’s Enhanced Capital Notes (ECN)2, will contribute positively to the group’s net interest margin, althoughthese savings could be reversed in the form of additional costs, if the UK Supreme Court decides that a disqualification event hasnot occurred and orders the group to compensate ECN holders. We expect LBG to face some negative pressures on its net interestmargin driven by increased competition in UK retail and commercial banking. Due to the negative impact of run-off asset disposalsunderlying other income went down by 5% in 2015. Fees and commissions income fell by 6%, partly offset by strong Insurance divisionperformance (6% increase in contribution to the group’s other income). Excluding conduct remediation costs, LBG continues tomaintain good efficiency levels and reported flat operating costs and cost-to-income ratio of 49.3% in 2015. In addition, the groupbenefitted from a 48% drop in impairment charges.

LBG’s asset risk continues to decline on the back of the favourable operating environment in the UK and asset disposals. The reportedimpaired loan ratio decreased to 2.1% as of December 2015 from 2.9% as of December 2014. During the year the group sold £2.6billion of Irish commercial loans, thus almost fully eliminating its exposure to commercial lending in Ireland (£37 million gross lendingremains). Cost of risk reported in the period was 14 basis points, 9 basis points lower than in 2014. Lower loan impairments, however,resulted in a 10 percentage points decrease in impaired loan provision coverage to 46.1% from 56.4%. Given the continuous de-riskingwe view this level of provisioning as appropriate.

Exhibit 2

Asset risk continues to decline

Source: LBG results presentations

The group reported a fully loaded common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 13% at December 2015 on a pro-forma basis, down from 13.7%as of September 2015 driven by the losses posted during the last quarter of 2015 and the dividend payments. Excluding dividendpayments, CET1 would have increased to 13.9% on a pro-forma basis as of December 2015 from 12.8% as of December 2014. Wepositively note that the group was able to maintain its target CET1 ratio and pay dividends after facing sizable conduct costs. However,we remain concerned about the potential effect on LBG’s CET1 of the introduction of changes in regulatory measures such as theimposition of risk weighted asset (RWA) floors. The group will publish its 2015 pillar 3 disclosures in the coming weeks, but as of year-end 2014 the average RWA floor of its residential mortgage portfolio was 11%. In addition, The Group’s ICG has increased, such that at31 December 2015 the top up to Pillar 1 (or Pillar 2A) represented 4.6 per cent of risk-weighted assets of which 2.6 per cent had to becovered by CET1 capital. The Group believes that the increase in Pillar 2A reflects the impact of market and economic factors and thereduction in risk-weighted assets rather than any fundamental changes to the nature of the underlying risks. However the Group is notpermitted by the PRA to give any further details of the quantum of the individual components.

LBG’s leverage ratio declined to 4.8% as of December 2015 from 4.9% as of December 2014.

Page 3: Lloyds Banking Group plc Exhibit 1...decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in provisions in 2015 for the mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) products, up from

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

3 26 February 2016 Lloyds Banking Group plc: 2015 Results Commentary

Exhibit 3

LBG’s fully-loaded CRDIV CET1 and leverage ratios

Source: LBG results presentations

LBG’s loan-to-deposit ratio increased to 109% as of December 2015 from 108% as of December 2014, mainly driven by the disposalof TSB. The group increased its wholesale funding by 3% between December 2014 and December 2015 to £120 billion, despite themuted growth of its loan portfolio. However, the amount of wholesale funding with a maturity of less than 1 year declined by 8% to£38 billion. Although LBG did not provide any information regarding the level of its net stable funding ratio (NSFR), it said that itsliquidity coverage ratio (LCR) is above 100%. We believe that the increase in the group’s LCR eligible liquid assets to £123 billion as ofDecember 2015 from £109 billion as of December 2014 is credit positive.

LBG also provided further clarifications on its proposed legal structure to comply with the ring-fencing framework. The group expectsto allocate about 97% of its lending within the ring-fenced bank (RFB), leaving the remaining assets, including insurance businesses,out. Given the simple structure and the proportion of assets to stay within the RFB, we believe the transfer process will be lesschallenging and likely less costly for the group than for its larger peers.

LBG’s primary operating bank subsidiary, Lloyds Bank plc, has a standalone baseline credit assessment of baa1. Its bank deposits andsenior debt are rated A1. The holding company’s senior debt is rated Baa1. The outlook on the ratings is positive. Results for 2015are supportive of the current ratings, which incorporate improving trends in asset quality and capitalisation and our expectation ofeventual stabilisation of profitability as legacy conduct issues resolve.

Page 4: Lloyds Banking Group plc Exhibit 1...decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in provisions in 2015 for the mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) products, up from

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

4 26 February 2016 Lloyds Banking Group plc: 2015 Results Commentary

Endnotes1 See ''UK's Proposed Deadline for Sales Complaints Is Credit Positive for Large Lenders'', 8 October 2015

2 See ''UK Court Decision Is Credit Positive for Lloyds Banking Group'', 17 December 2015

Page 5: Lloyds Banking Group plc Exhibit 1...decline was mainly driven by an additional £4 billion in provisions in 2015 for the mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) products, up from

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

5 26 February 2016 Lloyds Banking Group plc: 2015 Results Commentary

© 2016 Moody's Corporation, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Moody's Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.

CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. AND ITS RATINGS AFFILIATES ("MIS") ARE MOODY'S CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDITRISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND CREDIT RATINGS AND RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS PUBLISHED BY MOODY'S ("MOODY'SPUBLICATIONS") MAY INCLUDE MOODY'S CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKESECURITIES. MOODY'S DEFINES CREDIT RISK AS THE RISK THAT AN ENTITY MAY NOT MEET ITS CONTRACTUAL, FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS THEY COME DUE AND ANYESTIMATED FINANCIAL LOSS IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT. CREDIT RATINGS DO NOT ADDRESS ANY OTHER RISK, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LIQUIDITY RISK, MARKETVALUE RISK, OR PRICE VOLATILITY. CREDIT RATINGS AND MOODY'S OPINIONS INCLUDED IN MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF CURRENT OR HISTORICALFACT. MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS MAY ALSO INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE MODEL-BASED ESTIMATES OF CREDIT RISK AND RELATED OPINIONS OR COMMENTARY PUBLISHEDBY MOODY'S ANALYTICS, INC. CREDIT RATINGS AND MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS DO NOT CONSTITUTE OR PROVIDE INVESTMENT OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, AND CREDITRATINGS AND MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AND DO NOT PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PURCHASE, SELL, OR HOLD PARTICULAR SECURITIES. NEITHER CREDITRATINGS NOR MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS COMMENT ON THE SUITABILITY OF AN INVESTMENT FOR ANY PARTICULAR INVESTOR. MOODY'S ISSUES ITS CREDIT RATINGSAND PUBLISHES MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH INVESTOR WILL, WITH DUE CARE, MAKE ITS OWN STUDY ANDEVALUATION OF EACH SECURITY THAT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PURCHASE, HOLDING, OR SALE.

MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AND MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY RETAIL INVESTORS AND IT WOULD BE RECKLESS AND INAPPROPRIATE FORRETAIL INVESTORS TO USE MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS OR MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS WHEN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION. IF IN DOUBT YOU SHOULD CONTACTYOUR FINANCIAL OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISER. ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROTECTED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COPYRIGHT LAW,AND NONE OF SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE COPIED OR OTHERWISE REPRODUCED, REPACKAGED, FURTHER TRANSMITTED, TRANSFERRED, DISSEMINATED, REDISTRIBUTEDOR RESOLD, OR STORED FOR SUBSEQUENT USE FOR ANY SUCH PURPOSE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ANY FORM OR MANNER OR BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER, BY ANYPERSON WITHOUT MOODY'S PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT.

All information contained herein is obtained by MOODY'S from sources believed by it to be accurate and reliable. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error as wellas other factors, however, all information contained herein is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. MOODY'S adopts all necessary measures so that the information ituses in assigning a credit rating is of sufficient quality and from sources MOODY'S considers to be reliable including, when appropriate, independent third-party sources. However,MOODY'S is not an auditor and cannot in every instance independently verify or validate information received in the rating process or in preparing the Moody's Publications.

To the extent permitted by law, MOODY'S and its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors and suppliers disclaim liability to any person or entity for anyindirect, special, consequential, or incidental losses or damages whatsoever arising from or in connection with the information contained herein or the use of or inability to use anysuch information, even if MOODY'S or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors or suppliers is advised in advance of the possibility of such losses ordamages, including but not limited to: (a) any loss of present or prospective profits or (b) any loss or damage arising where the relevant financial instrument is not the subject of aparticular credit rating assigned by MOODY'S.

To the extent permitted by law, MOODY'S and its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors and suppliers disclaim liability for any direct or compensatorylosses or damages caused to any person or entity, including but not limited to by any negligence (but excluding fraud, willful misconduct or any other type of liability that, for theavoidance of doubt, by law cannot be excluded) on the part of, or any contingency within or beyond the control of, MOODY'S or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents,representatives, licensors or suppliers, arising from or in connection with the information contained herein or the use of or inability to use any such information.

NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY SUCHRATING OR OTHER OPINION OR INFORMATION IS GIVEN OR MADE BY MOODY'S IN ANY FORM OR MANNER WHATSOEVER.

Moody's Investors Service, Inc., a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moody's Corporation ("MCO"), hereby discloses that most issuers of debt securities (includingcorporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferred stock rated by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. have, prior to assignment of any rating,agreed to pay to Moody's Investors Service, Inc. for appraisal and rating services rendered by it fees ranging from $1,500 to approximately $2,500,000. MCO and MIS also maintainpolicies and procedures to address the independence of MIS's ratings and rating processes. Information regarding certain affiliations that may exist between directors of MCO andrated entities, and between entities who hold ratings from MIS and have also publicly reported to the SEC an ownership interest in MCO of more than 5%, is posted annually atwww.moodys.com under the heading "Investor Relations — Corporate Governance — Director and Shareholder Affiliation Policy."

Additional terms for Australia only: Any publication into Australia of this document is pursuant to the Australian Financial Services License of MOODY'S affiliate, Moody's InvestorsService Pty Limited ABN 61 003 399 657AFSL 336969 and/or Moody's Analytics Australia Pty Ltd ABN 94 105 136 972 AFSL 383569 (as applicable). This document is intendedto be provided only to "wholesale clients" within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. By continuing to access this document from within Australia, yourepresent to MOODY'S that you are, or are accessing the document as a representative of, a "wholesale client" and that neither you nor the entity you represent will directly orindirectly disseminate this document or its contents to "retail clients" within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. MOODY'S credit rating is an opinion asto the creditworthiness of a debt obligation of the issuer, not on the equity securities of the issuer or any form of security that is available to retail investors. It would be recklessand inappropriate for retail investors to use MOODY'S credit ratings or publications when making an investment decision. If in doubt you should contact your financial or otherprofessional adviser.

Additional terms for Japan only: Moody's Japan K.K. ("MJKK") is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moody's Group Japan G.K., which is wholly-owned by Moody'sOverseas Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCO. Moody's SF Japan K.K. ("MSFJ") is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of MJKK. MSFJ is not a NationallyRecognized Statistical Rating Organization ("NRSRO"). Therefore, credit ratings assigned by MSFJ are Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings. Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings are assigned by anentity that is not a NRSRO and, consequently, the rated obligation will not qualify for certain types of treatment under U.S. laws. MJKK and MSFJ are credit rating agencies registeredwith the Japan Financial Services Agency and their registration numbers are FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2 and 3 respectively.

MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) hereby disclose that most issuers of debt securities (including corporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferredstock rated by MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) have, prior to assignment of any rating, agreed to pay to MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) for appraisal and rating services rendered by it feesranging from JPY200,000 to approximately JPY350,000,000.

MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements.

REPORT NUMBER 1018005