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
13 December 2004
LLOYDS TSB 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
Item
No. 1 Regulatory News Service Announcement, dated 13 December 2004
re: Trading Statement
225/04 13 December 2004
LLOYDS TSB - TRADING UPDATE
Lloyds TSB Group plc will shortly be meeting analysts ahead of its close period
for the year ending 31 December 2004. This announcement sets out the
information that will be provided at those meetings.
Lloyds TSB continues to deliver good earnings momentum and expects to deliver a
satisfactory trading performance for the year, with progress continuing to be
made in all key strategic priorities.
In a year of significant transition within the branch network, the retail bank
has continued to make progress in profitable franchise development,
notwithstanding some slowdown in the demand for consumer credit. Good growth in
the lending portfolios has been partly offset by an expected lower net interest
margin, although the rate of margin erosion has reduced since the first half.
Scottish Widows has continued to refocus its product mix towards more profitable
and capital efficient products and, over the last few months, has launched a new
range of products more tailored to the branch network distribution channel.
Both new business contribution and new business margin improved in the first
nine months of 2004. Scottish Widows remains well capitalised and on track to
pay a 2004 dividend to Lloyds TSB.
.../more
LLOYDS TSB - TRADING UPDATE .../2
In Wholesale and International Banking good progress has been made in deepening
relationships with our existing corporate customers. All main businesses within
the division continue to perform well, asset quality remains strong, and we have
achieved a good increase in profitable new business in the corporate businesses,
business banking and asset finance.
The Group's cost performance continues to be strong and further improvements in
processing quality have been made throughout the business. The Group continues
to deliver revenue growth in excess of cost growth in each division.
Our continuing focus on high quality lending has resulted in an improvement in
asset quality, and the annualised charge for bad and doubtful debts as a
percentage of average lending for the full year is expected to be lower than the
0.63 per cent annualised charge in the first half of 2004.
In the first 11 months of 2004 there was a positive investment variance
totalling GBP70 million, largely as a result of a rise in the FTSE All Share
Index during the period.
The Group continues to review the impact of the level of complaints received
relating to past sales, and performance, of endowment policies. To ensure that
adequate provision for any ongoing liabilities is maintained, an additional
provision in this respect of some GBP110 million is expected to be made in the
2004 accounts. Despite this provision, Lloyds TSB expects to report earnings
broadly in line with current market expectations.*
We have made good progress in our preparations for the implementation of
International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005. The detailed
interpretation of a number of the new accounting standards, as well as Financial
Reporting Standard 27 (formerly Financial Reporting Exposure Draft 34 - Life
Assurance), is being finalised. Current indications are that, excluding the
effects of derivative and equity valuations introduced with IAS 39 and FRS 27,
the overall impact of forthcoming accounting and regulatory changes will reduce
the earnings of the Group, both before and after goodwill amortisation, by less
than 5 per cent, and that the Group's regulatory capital position will not be
materially affected.
.../more
LLOYDS TSB - TRADING UPDATE .../3
Eric Daniels, Group Chief Executive, said "Despite the slowdown in growth in
demand for consumer credit, we are continuing to make progress against our
objective to deliver sustained earnings momentum. Capital ratios remain strong,
the Group's return on average risk-weighted assets has improved, and the Group
is on track to make further earnings progress in 2005 and beyond."
2004 Results timetable
Preliminary results announcement: Friday, 4 March 2005
Ex dividend date: Wednesday, 16 March 2005
Dividend record date: Friday, 18 March 2005
Dividend payment date: Wednesday, 4 May 2005
*On 10 December 2004, the consensus of analysts' forecasts for profit before
tax, excluding changes in economic assumptions, investment variance and loss on
sale of businesses, for the year ending 31 December 2004 was GBP3,330 million.
For further information:-
Investor Relations
Michael Oliver +44 (0) 20 7356 2167
Director of Investor Relations
E-mail: michael.oliver@ltsb-finance.co.uk
Ian Gordon +44 (0) 20 7356 1264
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
E-mail: ian.gordon@ltsb-finance.co.uk
Media
Terrence Collis +44 (0) 20 7626 1500
Director of Group Corporate Communications
E-mail: terrence.collis@lloydstsb.co.uk
Mary Walsh +44 (0) 20 7626 1500
Head of Media Relations
E-mail: mary.walsh@lloydstsb.co.uk
.../more
LLOYDS TSB - TRADING UPDATE.../4
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This announcement contains forward looking statements with respect to the
business, strategy and plans of the Lloyds TSB 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 TSB
Group's 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 on circumstances that will
occur in the future. Lloyds TSB Group's actual future results may differ
materially from the results expressed or implied in these forward looking
statements as a result of a variety of factors, including UK domestic and global
economic and business conditions, risks concerning borrower credit quality,
market related risks such as interest rate risk and exchange rate risk in its
banking businesses and equity risk in its insurance businesses, inherent risks
regarding changing demographic developments, catastrophic weather and similar
contingencies outside Lloyds TSB Group's control, any adverse experience in
inherent operational risks, any unexpected developments in regulation or
regulatory actions, changes in customer preferences, competition, industry
consolidation, acquisitions and other factors. For more information on these
and other factors, please refer to Lloyds TSB Group's Annual Report on Form 20-F
filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and to any subsequent
reports furnished by Lloyds TSB Group to the US Securities and Exchange
Commission or to the London Stock Exchange. The forward looking statements
contained in this announcement are made as of the date hereof, and Lloyds TSB
Group undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward looking statements.
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 TSB GROUP plc
(Registrant)
By: M D Oliver
Name: M D Oliver
Title: Director of Investor Relations
Date: 13 December 2004