20-F 1 mar1405_20f.htm
FORM 20-F

(Mark one) o REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     
OR x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     
For the fiscal year ended                                    31 December 2004                                   
     
OR o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
     
     
Commission file number                                               1-10306                                            


The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
Scotland
42 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2YE United Kingdom

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.    
     
Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
     

American Depositary Shares Series D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L and M each representing one Non-Cumulative Dollar Preference Share, Series D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L and M, respectively

   New York Stock Exchange
Exchangeable Capital Securities, Series A   New York Stock Exchange
Non-Cumulative Dollar Preference Shares*   New York Stock Exchange
Dollar Perpetual Regulatory tier one securities, Series 1   New York Stock Exchange
     
    * Issuable upon exchange of the Exchangeable Capital Securities    
     
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.    
 
None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None


Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

Ordinary shares of 25 pence each 3,172,605,080   Non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series D to M 153,000,000
Non-voting Deferred Shares 2,660,556,304   Non-cumulative convertible dollar preference shares, Series 1 to 3 1,900,000
11% cumulative preference shares 500,000   Non-cumulative euro preference shares, Series 1 1,250,000
5½% cumulative preference shares 400,000   Non-cumulative convertible euro preference shares, Series 1 750,000
      Non-cumulative convertible sterling preference shares, Series 1 200,000
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
  x YES o NO
         
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. o Item 17 x Item 18




SEC Form 20-F cross reference guide

 Item   Item Caption   Pages
       
 PART I      
 1   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers   Not applicable
 2   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable   Not applicable
 3   Key Information  
       Selected financial data   148 - 151, 159
       Capitalisation and indebtedness   Not applicable
       Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds   Not applicable
       Risk factors   6
 4   Information on the Company   17 - 20, 46 - 49, 103, 151 - 158
       History and development of the Company   4 - 6, 62, 92, 106, 166, 171, 183
       Business overview   4 - 5, 130 - 132, 162 - 165  
       Organisational structure   4, 104, 183
       Property, plants and equipment   166
 5   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects  
       Operating results   12 - 41, 57, 122, 162 - 165
       Liquidity and capital resources   40 - 41, 50 - 53, 62, 121 - 124, 158, 160 - 165
       Research and development, patents and licences etc.   Not applicable
       Trend information   6 - 7, 159
       Off-balance sheet arrangements   160-161
       Contractual obligations   161
 6   Directors, Senior Management and Employees  
       Directors and senior management   60-61
       Compensation   70 - 79
       Board practices   61, 66 - 69, 73 - 75
       Employees   37
       Share ownership   64, 77 - 78, 80
 7   Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions  
       Major shareholders   63, 166
       Related party transactions   133
       Interests of experts and counsel   Not applicable
 8   Financial Information  
       Consolidated statements and other financial information   84 - 145
       Significant changes   145

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Item   Item Caption   Pages  
       
9   The Offer and Listing  
       Offer and listing details   170  
       Plan of distribution   Not applicable  
       Markets   169 - 170  
       Selling shareholders   Not applicable  
       Dilution   Not applicable  
       Expenses of the issue   Not applicable  
10   Additional Information  
       Share capital   Not applicable  
       Memorandum and articles of association   171 - 177  
       Material contracts   166  
       Exchange controls   182  
       Taxation   177 - 181  
       Dividends and paying agents   Not applicable  
       Statement by experts   Not applicable  
       Documents on display   182  
       Subsidiary information   Not applicable  
11   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   42 - 58,  
    118 - 122,  
    152 - 158  
12   Description of Securities other than Equity Securities   Not applicable  
     
PART II    
13   Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies   Not applicable  
14   Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds   Not applicable  
15   Controls and Procedures   69  
16   [Reserved]  
16A A Audit Committee financial expert   67  
B Code of ethics   67  
C Principal Accountant Fees and services   67, 96  
D Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committee   Not applicable  
E Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers  
         No such purchases were made during the year ended 31 December 2004.      
           
PART III          
17   Financial Statements   Not applicable  
18   Financial Statements   84 - 145  
19   Exhibits   186  
    Signature   187  

ii





Operating and financial review
 

Contents

2 Presentation of information
   
3 Forward-looking statements
   
4 Description of business
   
6 Risk factors
   
6 Critical accounting policies
   
9 Accounting developments
   
12 Financial highlights
   
13 Summary consolidated profit and loss account
 
17 Analysis of results
   
25 Divisional performance
   
38 Consolidated balance sheet
   
40 Cash flow
   
41 UK GAAP compared with US GAAP
 
41 Capital resources
   
42 Risk management


1



Presentation of information
 

In the Report and Accounts, and unless specified otherwise, the term ‘company’ means The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, ‘RBS’ or the ‘Group’ means the company and its subsidiary undertakings, ‘the Royal Bank’ means The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and ‘NatWest’ means National Westminster Bank Plc.

The company publishes its financial statements in pounds sterling (“£” or “sterling”). The abbreviations ‘£m’ and ‘£bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of pounds sterling, respectively, and references to ‘pence’ represent pence in the United Kingdom (“UK”). Reference to ‘dollars’ or ‘$’ are to United States of America (“US”) dollars. The abbreviations ‘$m’ and ‘$bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of dollars, respectively, and references to ‘cents’ represent cents in the US. The abbreviation ‘€’ represents the ‘euro’, the European single currency and the abbreviations ‘$m’ and ‘$bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of euros, respectively.

Certain information in this report is presented separately for domestic and foreign activities. Domestic activities primarily consist of the UK domestic transactions of the Group. Foreign activities comprise the Group’s transactions conducted through those offices in the UK specifically organised to service international banking transactions and transactions conducted through offices outside the UK.

The geographic analysis in the average balance sheet and interest rates, changes in net interest income and average interest rates, yields, spreads and margins in this report have been compiled on the basis of location of office – UK and Overseas. Management believes that this presentation provides more useful information on the Group’s yields, spreads and margins of the Group’s activities than would be provided by presentation on the basis of the domestic and foreign activities analysis used elsewhere in this report as it more closely reflects the basis on which the Group is managed. ‘UK’ in this context includes domestic transactions and transactions conducted through the offices in the UK which service international banking transactions.

The Group distinguishes its trading from non-trading activities by determining whether a business unit’s principal activity is trading or non-trading and then attributing all of that unit’s activities to one portfolio or the other. Although this method may result in some non-trading activity being classified as trading, and vice versa, the Group believes that any resulting misclassification is not material.

In this report, the terms ‘UK GAAP’ and ‘US GAAP’ refer to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the UK and the US, respectively.



2




Forward-looking statements
 

Certain sections in this document contain ‘forward-looking statements’ as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements that include the words ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘project’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believes’, ‘should’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘probability’, ‘risk’, ‘Value-at-Risk (“VaR”)’, ‘target’, ‘goal’, ‘objective’, ‘will’, ‘endeavour’, ‘outlook’, ‘optimistic’, ‘prospects’ and similar expressions or variations on such expressions.

In particular, this document includes forward-looking statements relating, but not limited, to the Group’s potential exposures to various types of market risks, such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange rate risk and commodity and equity price risk. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. For example, certain of the market risk disclosures are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations. By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and, as a result, actual future gains and losses could differ materially from those that have been estimated.

Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking statements contained in this document include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in the UK and in other countries in which the Group has significant business activities or investments, including the United States; the monetary and interest rate policies of the Bank of England, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and other G-7 central banks; inflation; deflation; unanticipated turbulence in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices; changes in UK and foreign laws, regulations and taxes; changes in competition and pricing environments; natural and other disasters; the inability to hedge certain risks economically; the adequacy of loss reserves; acquisitions or restructurings; technological changes; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; and the success of the Group in managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this report, and the Group does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For a further discussion of certain risks faced by the Group, see Risk factors on page 6.



3






Operating and financial review
 

Description of business

Introduction

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc is the holding company of one of the world’s largest banking and financial services groups, with a market capitalisation of £55.6 billion at the end of 2004. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the Group operates in the UK, US and internationally through its two principal subsidiaries, the Royal Bank and NatWest. Both the Royal Bank and NatWest are major UK clearing banks whose origins go back over 275 years. In the US, the Group’s subsidiary, Citizens is ranked the eighth largest commercial banking organisation by deposits. The Group has a large and diversified customer base and provides a wide range of products and services to personal, commercial and large corporate and institutional customers.

The Group had total assets of £583 billion and ordinary shareholders’ equity of £27.3 billion at 31 December 2004. It is strongly capitalised with a total capital ratio of 11.7% and tier 1 capital ratio of 7.0% as at 31 December 2004.

Organisational structure and business overview

The Group’s activities are organised in the following business divisions: Corporate Banking and Financial Markets, Retail Banking, Retail Direct, Manufacturing, Wealth Management, RBS Insurance, Ulster Bank and Citizens. A description of each of the divisions is given below.

Corporate Banking and Financial Markets (“CBFM”) is the largest provider of banking services to medium and large businesses in the UK with growing presence in the US, Europe and Asia. It provides an integrated range of products and services including corporate and commercial banking, treasury and capital markets products, structured and leveraged finance, trade finance, leasing and factoring.

Within CBFM, Financial Markets provides corporate and institutional customers with treasury services, including global interest rate derivatives trading, bond origination and trading, sovereign debt trading, futures brokerage, foreign exchange, money market, currency derivative and rate risk management services. RBS Greenwich Capital, with headquarters in Connecticut, US, delivers debt market solutions tailored to meet the needs of companies and institutions around the world.

Retail Banking is one of the leading retail banks in the UK. The division comprises both the Royal Bank and NatWest retail brands. It offers a full range of banking products and related financial services to the personal, premium and small business markets.

In the personal banking market, Retail Banking offers a comprehensive product range: money transmission, savings, loans, mortgages and insurance. In the small business market, Retail Banking provides a full range of services which include money transmission and cash management, short, medium and long-term financing, deposit products and insurance.

Customer choice and product flexibility are central to the Retail Banking proposition and customers are able to access services through a full range of channels: branches, ATMs, the internet and the telephone.

Retail Direct consists of the Group’s non-branch based retail businesses. Retail Direct issues a comprehensive range of credit, charge and debit cards to personal and corporate customers and provides merchant acquisition and processing facilities for retail businesses. It also includes Tesco Personal Finance (“TPF”), The One account, Direct Line Financial Services (“DLFS”), Lombard Direct, WorldPay Limited, the Group’s internet banking platform, the Primeline brand and in Europe, the Comfort Card businesses, all of which offer products to customers through direct channels.

During 2004 Retail Direct expanded its international operations. In the US, it acquired the credit card business of People’s Bank, Lynk systems Inc., a leading merchant acquirer and entered into an agreement to issue credit cards to the customers of Kroger, a leading supermarket chain. In continental Europe, Retail Direct acquired Bibit NV, a leading internet payment specialist and agreed to provide consumer finance services through the outlets of Tchibo, a leading German retailer.

Manufacturing supports the customer facing businesses in the UK and Ireland and manages the Group’s telephony, account management and money transmission operations. It is also responsible for information technology operations and development, global purchasing, property and other services.

Manufacturing drives optimum efficiencies in high volume processing activities, leverages the Group's purchasing power and has become a centre of excellence for managing large scale and complex change programmes such as integration.

Wealth Management provides private banking and investment services to its clients through a number of leading UK and overseas private banking subsidiaries and offshore banking businesses. Coutts is one of the world’s leading international wealth managers with over 50 offices worldwide, including Switzerland, Dubai, Monaco, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as its premier position in the UK. Adam & Company is the major private bank in Scotland. The offshore banking businesses – The Royal Bank of Scotland International and NatWest Offshore – deliver retail banking services to local and expatriate customers, and corporate banking and treasury services to corporate, intermediary and institutional clients, principally in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar.

RBS Insurance is the second largest general insurer in the UK, by gross earned premiums. Through the Direct Line, Churchill and Privilege brands it sells and underwrites personal insurance over the telephone and the internet in the UK. Through the red phone brand, RBS Insurance also sells and



4



underwrites personal insurance in Spain, Italy and Germany. UKI Partnerships is a leading provider of insurance and motoring related services through partner brands, including through Tesco Personal Finance. NIG sells personal and commercial products through a network of intermediaries, while Inter Group acts as an insurance administrator and Devitt Insurance Services operates as a specialist broker administrator.

Ulster Bank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate banking services in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In retail banking, Ulster Bank operates a network of branches throughout Ireland serving personal and commercial customers. Corporate Banking and Financial Markets provides a wide range of services in the corporate and institutional markets.

In January 2004 Ulster Bank acquired First Active plc, a leading provider of mortgages, retail savings and investment products in the Republic of Ireland. First Active and Ulster Bank have retained their own distinctive brands, branch networks and customer propositions, with efficiencies derived from shared central manufacturing activities.

Citizens is the second largest commercial banking organisation in New England and the eighth largest commercial banking organisation in the US measured by deposits. Citizens provides retail and corporate banking services under the Citizens brand in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, and the Charter One brand in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Vermont. Through its branch network Citizens provides a full range of retail and corporate banking services, including personal banking, residential mortgages and cash management. In addition, Citizens engages in a wide variety of commercial lending, consumer lending, commercial and consumer deposit products, merchant credit card services, insurance products, trust services and retail investment services.

During 2004, Citizens completed the acquisitions of Thistle Group Holdings, Co., the holding company of Roxborough Manayunk Bank and Charter One Financial Group, Inc., the holding company of Charter One Bank.

Competition

The Group faces intense competition in all the markets it serves. In the UK, the Group’s principal competitors are the other UK retail and commercial banks, building societies (which are similar to savings and loans associations in the US) and the other major international banks represented in London.

Competition for corporate and institutional customers in the UK is from UK banks and from large foreign financial institutions who are also active and offer combined investment and commercial banking capabilities. In asset finance, the Group competes with banks and specialised asset finance providers, both captive and non-captive.

In the small business banking market, the Group competes with other UK clearing banks, with specialist finance providers and building societies.

In the personal banking segment the Group competes with UK banks and building societies, major retailers, life assurance companies and internet-only players. In the mortgage market where the Group competes with UK banks and building societies, re-mortgaging activity by customers has been at a high level. NatWest Life and Royal Scottish Assurance compete with Independent Financial Advisors and life assurance companies. The competitive situation in the long term savings market is dynamic due to the uncertainties created by regulatory change and continued evolution of institutions, particularly in the mutual sector.

In the UK credit card market large retailers and specialist card issuers, including major US operators, are active in addition to the UK banks and building societies. Competitive pressure includes aggressive pricing, loyalty and reward schemes, and packaged benefits. In addition to physical distribution channels, providers compete through direct marketing activity and, increasingly, the internet.

In Wealth Management, The Royal Bank of Scotland International and NatWest Offshore compete with other UK and international banks to offer offshore banking services. Coutts and Adam & Company compete as private banks with UK clearing and private banks, and with international private banks.

RBS Insurance competes in personal lines insurance and to a limited extent in commercial insurance. There is competition from a range of insurance companies which now operate telephone and internet direct sales businesses. RBS Insurance also competes with local insurance companies in the direct motor insurance markets in Spain, Italy and Germany.

In Ireland, Ulster Bank and First Active compete in retail and commercial banking with the major Irish banks and building societies, and with other UK and international banks and building societies active in the market. Competition is intensifying as both UK, Irish and other European institutions seek to expand their businesses.

In the United States, Citizens competes in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West retail and mid-corporate banking markets with local and regional banks and other financial institutions. The Group also competes in the US in large corporate lending and specialised finance markets, and in fixed-income trading and sales. Competition is principally with the large US commercial and investment banks and international banks active in the US.

In other international markets, principally in continental Europe, the Group faces competition from the leading domestic and international institutions active in the relevant national markets.


5






Operating and financial review continued

Risk factors

Set out below are certain risk factors which could affect the Group’s future results and cause them to be materially different from expected results. The Group’s results are also affected competition and other factors. The factors discussed in this report should not be regarded as a complete and comprehensive statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.

The financial performance of the Group is affected by borrower credit quality and general economic conditions, in particular in the UK, US and Europe

Risks arising from changes in credit quality and the recoverability of loans and amounts due from counterparties are inherent in a wide range of the Group’s businesses. Adverse changes in the credit quality of the Group’s borrowers and counterparties or a general deterioration in UK, US, European or global economic conditions, or arising from systemic risks in the financial systems, could affect the recoverability and value of the Group’s assets and require an increase in the provision for bad and doubtful debts and other provisions.

Changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices and other market factors affect the Group’s business

The most significant market risks the Group faces are interest rate, foreign exchange and bond and equity price risks. Changes in interest rate levels, yield curves and spreads may affect the interest rate margin realised between lending and borrowing costs. Changes in currency rates, particularly in the sterling-dollar and sterling-euro exchange rates, affect the value of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and affect earnings reported by the Group’s non-UK subsidiaries, mainly Citizens, RBS Greenwich Capital and Ulster Bank, and may affect income from foreign exchange dealing. The performance of financial markets may cause changes in the value of the Group’s investment and trading portfolios. The Group has implemented risk management methods to mitigate and control these and other market risks to which the Group is exposed. However, it is difficult to predict with accuracy changes in economic or market conditions and to anticipate the effects that such changes could have on the Group’s financial performance and business operations.

The Group’s insurance businesses are subject to inherent risks involving claims

Future claims in the Group’s general and life assurance business may be higher than expected as a result of changing trends in claims experience resulting from catastrophic weather conditions, demographic developments, changes in mortality and other causes outside the Group’s control. Such changes would affect the profitability of current and future insurance products and services. The Group re-insures some of the risks it has assumed.

Operational risks are inherent in the Group’s business

The Group’s businesses are dependent on the ability to process a very large number of transactions efficiently and accurately. Operational losses can result from fraud, errors by employees, failure to document transactions properly or to obtain proper authorisation, failure to comply with regulatory requirements and Conduct of Business rules, equipment failures, natural disasters or the failure of external systems, for example, the Group’s suppliers or counterparties. Although the Group has implemented risk controls and loss mitigation actions, and substantial resources are devoted to developing efficient procedures and to staff training, it is only possible to be reasonably, but not absolutely, certain that such procedures will be effective in controlling each of the operational risks faced by the Group.

Each of the Group’s businesses is subject to substantial regulation and regulatory oversight. Any significant regulatory developments could have an effect on how the Group conducts its business and on the results of operations

The Group is subject to financial services laws, regulations, administrative actions and policies in each location in which the Group operates. This supervision and regulation, in particular in the UK, if changed could materially affect the Group’s business, the products and services offered or the value of assets.

Future growth in the Group’s earnings and shareholder value depends on strategic decisions regarding organic growth and potential acquisitions

The Group devotes substantial management and planning resources to the development of strategic plans for organic growth and identification of possible acquisitions, supported by substantial expenditure to generate growth in customer business. If these strategic plans do not meet with success, the Group’s earnings could grow more slowly or decline.

Critical accounting policies

The reported results of the Group are sensitive to the accounting policies, assumptions and estimates that underlie the preparation of its financial statements. The Group’s principal accounting policies are set out on pages 85 to 88. UK company law and accounting standards require the directors, in preparing the Group’s financial statements, to select suitable accounting policies, apply them consistently and make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. Where UK GAAP allows a choice of policy, Financial Reporting Standard (“FRS”) 18 ‘Accounting Policies’ requires an entity to adopt those policies judged to be most appropriate to its particular circumstances for the purpose of giving a true and fair view.

The judgements and assumptions involved in the Group’s accounting policies that are considered by the Board to be the most important to the portrayal of its financial condition are discussed below. The use of estimates, assumptions or models that differ from those adopted by the Group would affect its reported results.



6




Provisions for bad and doubtful debts

The Group provides for losses existing in its lending book so as to state its loan portfolio at its expected ultimate net realisable value. Specific provisions are established against individual exposures and the general provision covers advances impaired at the balance sheet date but which have not been identified as such. Bad and doubtful debt provisions made during the year less amounts released and recoveries of amounts written-off in previous years are charged to the profit and loss account. Loans and advances are reported on the balance sheet net of specific and general provisions.

For certain homogeneous portfolios, including credit card receivables and other personal advances including mortgages, specific provisions are established on a portfolio basis, taking into account the level of arrears, security, past loss experience, credit scores and defaults based on portfolio trends. The most significant factors in establishing these provisions are the expected loss rates and the related average life. These factors are kept under constant review by the Group.

Other loans and advances are individually assessed and the specific provision is determined from a review of the financial condition of the borrower and any guarantor and takes into account the customer’s debt capacity and financial flexibility; the level and quality of earnings; the amount and sources of cash flows; the industry in which the customer operates; and the realisable value of any security held. The most significant estimates that affect the quantum of a specific provision are the receipts from the borrower and the amount that will be recovered from any security held.

Evaluating these estimates involves significant judgement as receipts will depend on the future performance of the borrower and the value of security, both of which will be affected by future economic conditions. Additionally, the security may not be readily marketable.

The general provision covers bad and doubtful debts that have not been separately identified at the balance sheet date but are known to be present in any portfolio of advances. The level of general provision is assessed in the light of past experience and reflects the size and diversity of the Group’s loan portfolio, the current state of the economies in which the Group operates, other factors affecting the business environment, recent trends in companies going into administration, receivership and bankruptcy and the Group’s monitoring and control procedures, including the scope of specific provisioning procedures.

The future credit quality of the Group’s lending book is subject to uncertainties that could cause actual credit losses to differ materially from reported loan loss provisions. These uncertainties include the economic environment, notably interest rates and their effect on customer spending, the unemployment level, payment behaviour and bankruptcy trends and changes in the Group’s portfolios.

Loans and advances – recognition of interest income

Interest receivable from loans and advances is credited to the profit and loss account as it accrues unless there is significant doubt that it can be collected. If the collection of interest is in doubt, it is credited to a suspense account and excluded from interest receivable; it continues to be charged to the customer’s account.

Pensions

The Group operates a number of defined benefit pension schemes as described in Note 3 on the financial statements. The assets of the schemes are measured at their fair value at the balance sheet date. Scheme liabilities are measured using the projected unit method, which takes account of projected earnings increases, using actuarial assumptions that give the best estimate of the future cash flows that will arise under the scheme liabilities. These cash flows are discounted at the interest rate applicable to high-quality corporate bonds of the same currency and term as the liabilities. Any surplus or deficit of scheme assets over liabilities is recognised in the balance sheet as an asset (surplus) or liability (deficit). An asset is only recognised to the extent that the surplus can be recovered through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the scheme. In determining the value of scheme liabilities assumptions are made as to price inflation, dividend growth, pension increases, earnings growth and employees. There is a range of assumptions that could be adopted in valuing the schemes' liabilities. Different assumptions could significantly alter the amount of the deficit recognised in the balance sheet and the pension cost charged to the profit and loss account. The assumptions underlying the 2004 deficit and pension cost are set out in Note 3 on the financial statements.

Fair value

Securities and derivatives held for trading purposes are recognised in the financial statements at fair value. In the balance sheet, trading securities are included within Treasury and other eligible bills, Debt securities and Equity shares as appropriate. Positive fair values (assets) of trading derivatives are included in Other assets and negative fair values (liabilities) in Other liabilities. Positive and negative fair values of trading derivatives are offset where the contracts have been entered into under master netting agreements or other agreements that give a legally enforceable right of set-off. Gains or losses arising from changes in fair value are included in Dealing profits in the profit and loss account.

Fair value is the value at which a position could be closed out or sold in a transaction to a willing and knowledgeable counterparty over a reasonable period of time under current market conditions. Fair values are determined by reference to observable market prices where available and reliable. Where representative market prices for an instrument are not available or are unreliable because of poor liquidity, the fair value is derived from prices for its components using appropriate pricing or valuation models that are based on independently sourced market parameters, including interest rate yield curves, option volatilities and currency rates.



7






Operating and financial review continued

Securities carried at fair value include government, asset-backed and corporate debt obligations and corporate equity shares. Fair value for a substantial proportion of these instruments is based on observable market prices or derived from observable market parameters. Determining fair value for such instruments does not involve significant judgement. Where observable prices are not available or if a position could be liquidated only at an unfavourable price or over an extended period, fair value is based on appropriate valuation techniques or management estimates.

The Group’s derivative products include swaps, forwards, futures and options. Exchange traded instruments are valued using quoted prices. The fair value of over-the-counter instruments is derived from pricing models which take account of contract terms, including maturity, as well as quoted market parameters such as interest rates and volatilities. Most of the Group’s pricing models do not entail material subjectivity because the methodologies utilised do not incorporate significant judgement and the parameters included in the models can be calibrated to actively quoted market prices. Values established from pricing models are adjusted for credit risk, liquidity risk and future operational costs.

A negligible proportion of the Group’s trading derivatives are valued directly from quoted prices, the majority being valued using appropriate valuation techniques. The fair value of substantially all securities positions carried at fair value is determined directly from quoted prices.

General insurance claims

The Group makes provision for the full cost of settling outstanding claims arising from its general insurance business at the balance sheet date, including claims estimated to have been incurred but not yet reported at that date and claims handling expenses. Claims are recognised in the accounting period in which the loss occurs.

Provisions are determined by management based on experience of claims settled and on statistical models which require certain assumptions to be made regarding the incidence, timing and amount of claims and any specific factors such as adverse weather conditions. In order to calculate the total provision required, the historical development of claims is analysed using statistical methodology to extrapolate, within acceptable probability parameters, the value of outstanding claims at the balance sheet date. Also included in the estimation of outstanding claims are other assumptions such as the inflationary factor used for bodily injury claims which is based on historical trends and, therefore, allows for some increase due to changes in common law and statute. Costs for both direct and indirect claims handling expenses are also included. Outward reinsurance recoveries are accounted for in the same accounting period as the direct claims to which they relate.

The outstanding claims provision is based on information available to management and the eventual outcome may vary from the original assessment. Actual claims experience may differ from the historical pattern on which the estimate is based and the cost of settling individual claims may exceed that assumed.

Goodwill

The Group capitalises goodwill arising on the acquisition of businesses, as disclosed in the Accounting policies. Goodwill is the excess of the cost of an acquisition and the fair value of its net assets. The determination of the fair value of assets and liabilities of businesses acquired requires the exercise of management judgement; for example those financial assets and liabilities for which there are no quoted prices, and those non-financial assets where valuations reflect estimates of market conditions such as property. Different fair values would result in changes to the goodwill arising and to the post-acquisition performance of the acquisition. Under UK GAAP goodwill is amortised and there is a rebuttable presumption that the useful economic life of purchased goodwill does not exceed 20 years from the date of acquisition. The useful economic life of acquired goodwill is assessed on the basis of the type and diversity of the business, its location and the markets in which it operates. Under US GAAP goodwill is not amortised but is subject to annual review for impairment.

An impairment test is designed to assess the recoverable amount of an asset or, in the case of goodwill, an operating segment, by comparing its carrying value with the discounted value of future cash flows that it will generate. Impairment testing inherently involves a number of judgmental areas: the preparation of cash flow forecasts for periods that are beyond the normal requirements of management reporting, the valuation of the separable assets of each business whose goodwill is being reviewed and an assessment of the discount rate appropriate to the business. Under UK GAAP, impairment tests are only undertaken in the year following an acquisition or when there is evidence that impairment might have occurred. US GAAP requires annual impairment tests that are different from any UK tests and accordingly they may support a different carrying value for the asset being tested.


8




Accounting developments

UK GAAP

UITF Abstract 38 ‘Accounting for ESOP trusts’ and the consequential amendment to UITF Abstract 17 ‘Employee share schemes’ which are applicable for the year ended 31 December 2004 did not have a material effect on the Group.

The Accounting Standards Board issued FRS 27 ‘Life Assurance’ which introduces a new ‘realistic’ method of measuring life assurance liabilities and related assets. The present value of in-force polices can continue to be recognised provided that future investment margins are not included. The standard is applicable under UK GAAP for years ending on or after 31 December 2005 and is not expected to have a material effect on the Group.

International Financial Reporting Standards

In June 2002, the European Union adopted a regulation that requires, from 1 January 2005, listed companies to prepare their financial statements in accordance with international accounting standards adopted by the EU. The Group’s 2005 financial statements will therefore be prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). These comprise not only IFRS but also International Accounting Standards (“IAS”).

IFRS differ in certain significant respects from the Group’s accounting policies under UK GAAP. The summary below outlines the important differences for the Group in respect of recognition and measurement on the basis of extant IFRS that will be effective for 2005, including revised IAS 32 and IAS 39:

Goodwill – IFRS require goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiaries or associates to be capitalised. Amortisation of goodwill is prohibited but it must be tested annually for impairment (and whenever changes in circumstances indicate impairment). Under the Group's UK GAAP accounting policy, goodwill arising on acquisitions after 1998 is recognised as an asset and amortised on a straight-line basis over its useful economic life. Impairment tests are carried out at the end of the first full accounting period after its acquisition, and whenever there are indications of impairment. Goodwill arising on acquisitions before 1 October 1998 was deducted from reserves immediately. Certain amounts that would be included as goodwill under UK GAAP are recognised as intangibles under IFRS. Such intangibles are amortised over their useful lives unless they are regarded as having an indefinite useful life in which case they are not amortised but tested for impairment annually (and whenever changes in circumstances indicate impairment).

Merger accounting – IFRS require all business combinations to be accounted for as acquisitions by applying the purchase method. UK GAAP requires business combinations meeting certain criteria to be accounted for using merger accounting.

Dividends – IFRS require dividends payable to be recorded in the period in which they are declared whereas under UK GAAP dividends are recorded in the period to which they relate.

Computer software – under UK GAAP, most software development costs are written off as incurred. Under IFRS, such costs are capitalised if certain conditions are met and amortised over the estimated useful life of the software.

Pensions – the Group has implemented FRS 17 'Retirement Benefits' (FRS 17) for 2004. The measurement principles of this standard are similar to those required by IFRS. IFRS, like FRS 17, allow actuarial gains and losses to be recognised outside the profit and loss account. However IFRS allow as alternatives actuarial gains and losses to be recognised in profit or loss either in the period in which they occur or on a deferred basis.

Share-based payments – under UK GAAP, no compensation expense is recognised for Inland Revenue approved Save-as-you-earn share option schemes or for other share option schemes where the option has no intrinsic value (i.e. where at date of grant the exercise price equals the market value). IFRS require the fair value of share options at the date of grant to be recognised as an expense

Financial instruments: financial assets – under UK GAAP, loans are measured at cost less provisions for bad and doubtful debts, derivatives held for trading are carried at fair value and hedging derivatives are accounted for in accordance with the treatment of the item being hedged (see ‘Derivatives and hedging’ below), and securities are classified as being held as investment securities, or held for dealing purposes. Investment debt securities are stated at cost less provision for any permanent diminution in value. Premiums and discounts on dated securities are amortised to interest income over the period to maturity. Other securities are carried at fair value. Under IFRS, financial assets are classified into held-to-maturity; available-for-sale; held for trading; designated as fair value through profit or loss; and loans and receivables. Financial assets classified as held-to-maturity or as loans and receivables are carried at amortised cost. Other financial assets are measured at fair value. Changes in the fair value of available-for-sale financial assets are reported in a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Changes in the fair value of financial assets held for trading or designated as fair value are taken to the profit and loss account. Financial assets can be classified as held-to-maturity only if they have a fixed maturity and the reporting entity has the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity. Trading financial assets are held for the purpose of selling in the near term. IFRS allow any financial asset to be designated as fair value through profit and loss on initial recognition. Unquoted debt financial assets that are not classified as held-to-maturity, held for trading or designated as fair value through profit or loss are categorised as loans and receivables. All other financial assets are classified as available-for-sale.

Effective interest rate and lending fees – under UK GAAP, loan origination fees are recognised when receivable unless they are charged in lieu of interest. IFRS require origination fees to be deferred and recognised as an adjustment to the effective interest rate on the related financial asset. The effective interest rate is the rate that discounts estimated future cash flows over


9






Operating and financial review continued

an instrument’s expected life to its net carrying value. It takes into account all fees and points paid that are an integral part of the yield, transaction costs and all other premiums and discounts. Under IFRS, the carrying value of a financial instrument held at amortised cost is calculated using the effective interest method.

Loan impairment – under UK GAAP, provisions for bad and doubtful debts are made so as to record impaired loans at their expected ultimate net realisable value. IFRS require impairment losses on financial assets carried at amortised cost to be measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. Impairment must be assessed individually for individually significant assets but can be assessed collectively for other assets.

Financial instruments: financial liabilities – IFRS require all financial liabilities to be measured at amortised cost except those held for trading and those that were designated as fair value through profit and loss on initial recognition. Under UK GAAP, short positions in securities and trading derivatives are carried at fair value, all other financial liabilities are recorded at amortised cost. In IFRS as adopted by the EU, the option to designate at fair value through profit and loss is not available.

Liabilities and equity – under UK GAAP, all issued shares are classified as shareholders’ funds, and analysed between equity and non-equity interests. There is no concept of non-equity shares in IFRS. Instruments are classified between equity and liabilities in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangements. A non-derivative instrument is classified as equity if it does not include a contractual obligation either to deliver cash or to exchange financial instruments with another entity under potentially unfavourable conditions, and if the instrument will or may be settled by the issue of equity, settlement does not involve the issue of a variable number of shares.

Derivatives and hedging – under UK GAAP, non-trading derivatives are accounted for on an accruals basis in accordance with the accounting treatment of the underlying transaction or transactions being hedged. If a non-trading derivative transaction is terminated or ceases to be an effective hedge, it is re-measured at fair value and any gain or loss amortised over the remaining life of the underlying transaction or transactions being hedged. If a hedged item is derecognised the related non-trading derivative is remeasured at fair value and any gain or loss taken to the profit and loss account. Under IFRS, all derivatives are measured at fair value. Hedge accounting is permitted for three types of hedge relationship: fair value hedge – the hedge of changes in the fair value of a recognised asset or liability or firm commitment; cash flow hedge – the hedge of variability in cash flows from a recognised asset or liability or a forecast transaction; and the hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation. In a fair value hedge the gain or loss on the derivative is recognised in the profit and loss account as it arises offset by the corresponding gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the risk hedged.

In a cash flow hedge and in the hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation, the element of the derivative’s gain or loss that is an effective hedge is recognised directly in equity. The ineffective element is taken to the profit and loss account. Certain conditions must be met for a relationship to qualify for hedge accounting. These include designation, documentation and prospective and actual hedge effectiveness.

Embedded derivatives – under IFRS, a derivative embedded in a contract must be accounted for separately from the host contract if the embedded derivative has economic characteristics that differ from those of the host contract. There is no equivalent requirement in UK GAAP.

Offset – for a financial asset and financial liability to be offset, IFRS require that an entity must intend to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. However, under UK GAAP an intention to settle net is not a requirement for set off, although the entity must have the ability to insist on net settlement and that ability is assured beyond doubt.

Leasing – under UK GAAP, finance lease income is recognised so as to give a level rate of return on the net cash investment in the lease. IFRS require a level rate of return on the net investment in the lease. This means that under UK GAAP tax cash flows are taken into account in allocating income but they are not under IFRS.

Transition – IFRS 1 ‘First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards’ (IFRS 1) will apply to the Group's 2005 financial statements. The standard requires an opening IFRS balance sheet to be prepared as at the date of transition to IFRS, being the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented under IFRS in its first IFRS financial statements (the transition date). Accounting policies must comply with each IFRS effective at the reporting date of the first IFRS financial statements, and applied throughout all periods presented.

In the opening balance sheet the entity:

  • recognises all assets and liabilities whose recognition is required by IFRS, but not any assets or liabilities not permitted by IFRS to be recognised;

  • reclassifies items recognised under previous GAAP in accordance with IFRS requirements;

  • applies IFRS in measuring all recognised assets and liabilities.

IFRS 1 provides certain optional exemptions from the above principles:

  • Business combinations – past business combinations need not be restated in accordance with IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’.

10



  • Fair value or revaluation as deemed cost – the fair value of an item of property, plant or equipment, or a previous GAAP revaluation (that approximates fair value) of such an item, may be treated as though it were the cost basis for the asset, with subsequent depreciation and impairment based on that amount.

  • Employee benefits – under IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’, actuarial gains and losses on pension schemes may be unrecognised if they fall within a ‘corridor’. On first time application, an entity may determine the unrecognised gains and losses from inception of the pension scheme and recognise only those that would be recognised under IAS 19, or alternatively recognise all cumulative gains and losses at the transition date.

  • Cumulative translation differences – cumulative translation differences on the net investment in a foreign operation prior to the transition date need not be calculated but set at zero.

  • Compound financial instruments – split accounting required by IAS 39 need not be applied for a compound financial instrument if the liability component is no longer outstanding at the date of transition.

  • Designation of financial instruments – an entity is allowed to designate a financial instrument as financial asset or financial liability at fair value through profit or loss on the date of transition rather than on initial recognition as required by IAS 39.

  • Share-based payment transactions – IFRS 2 ‘Share-based Payment’ must be applied to equity instruments granted on or after 7 November 2002 that had not vested before the later of the transition date and 1 January 2005.

IFRS 1 prohibits retrospective application of some aspects of IFRS:

  • Derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities – the derecognition requirements of IAS 39 are to be applied prospectively for transactions occurring on or after 1 January 2004. However, an entity is permitted to apply the derecognition requirements retrospectively from a date of its choice.

  • Hedge accounting – at the transition date, all derivatives must be measured at fair value. Gains and losses deferred under previous accounting must be eliminated. Hedge accounting for relationships that do not qualify under IAS 39 must be discontinued in accordance with the hedge termination rules in IAS 39.

  • Assets classified as held for sale and discontinued operations – entities with a transition date before 1 January 2005 must apply the transition rules in IFRS 5 ‘Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’.

IFRS require at least one year of comparative data. However this data need not comply with IAS 32, IAS 39 and IFRS 4 ‘Insurance Contracts’. If comparatives that do not comply with IAS 32, IAS 39 and IFRS 4 are presented, then the date of transition for these standards will be the beginning of the first IFRS reporting period.

US GAAP

For a discussion of recent developments in US GAAP relevant to the Group, see Note 53 on the accounts.



11





Operating and financial review continued
     
Financial highlights    
for the year ended 31 December 2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
 
Total income 22,754   19,281   17,016
Profit before tax 6,917   6,076   4,852
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders 4,256   2,254   2,034
Cost:income ratio (%) (1) 47.7   49.4   55.6
Basic earnings per share (pence) 138.0   76.9   70.6
Dividend cover (times) (2) 2.3   1.5   1.6
Return on equity (%) (3) 16.0   9.8   8.8
 
             
at 31 December 2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
 
Total assets 583,467   454,428   411,038
Loans and advances to customers 345,469   252,531   223,324
Deposits 384,143   304,286   273,881
Shareholders’ funds 31,865   26,098   25,071
Risk asset ratio – tier 1 (%) 7.0   7.4   7.3
Risk asset ratio – total (%) 11.7   11.8   11.7
 
               
  Notes:
(1) Cost:income ratio represents operating expenses expressed as a percentage of total income.
(2) Dividend cover represents the total ordinary dividend expressed as a multiple of profit attributable to ordinary shareholders.
(3) After-tax return on equity is based on profit attributable to ordinary shareholders and average equity shareholders’ funds.
   
*   restated (see page 85)
   
12



Summary consolidated profit and loss account for the year ended 31 December 2004

  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		*     2002
£m 		*  
 
Net interest income   9,208   8,301   7,849
 
Dividend income   79   58   58
Fees and commissions receivable   6,634   5,693   5,249
Fees and commissions payable   (1,954 )   (1,337 )   (965 )
Dealing profits   1,988   1,793   1,462
Other operating income   1,855   1,650   1,410
 
  8,602   7,857   7,214
General insurance      
       – earned premiums   5,357   3,627   2,442
       – reinsurance   (413 )   (504 )   (489 )
 
Non-interest income   13,546   10,980   9,167
 
Total income   22,754   19,281   17,016
Operating expenses**   10,846   9,516   9,469
 
Profit before other operating charges   11,908   9,765   7,547
General insurance      
       – gross claims   3,724   2,644   1,693
       – reinsurance   (244 )   (449 )   (343 )
 
Profit before provisions for bad and doubtful debts   8,428   7,570   6,197
Provisions for bad and doubtful debts   1,428   1,461   1,286
Amounts written off fixed asset investments   83   33   59
 
Profit on ordinary activities before tax   6,917   6,076   4,852
Tax on profit on ordinary activities   2,155   1,888   1,582
 
Profit on ordinary activities after tax   4,762   4,188   3,270
Minority interests (including non-equity)   250   210   133
 
Profit for the financial year   4,512   3,978   3,137
Preference dividends – non-equity   256   261   305
 
  4,256   3,717   2,832
Additional Value Shares dividend – non-equity   ––   1,463   798
 
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders   4,256   2,254   2,034
 
 
Basic earnings per ordinary share   138.0 p   76.9 p   70.6 p
   
 
                   
*   restated (see page 85)                  

**  Integration costs included in operating expenses comprise:                  
                   
    2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m 		 
 
Administrative expenses   267     229     955  
Depreciation   2     —     2  
 
    269     229     957  
   
 

13




Operating and financial review continued

2004 compared with 2003

Profit

Profit before tax was up 14%, from £6,076 million to £6,917 million.

The Group made a number of acquisitions during 2004 which had a bearing on the year's results. These included:

In January 2004, Ulster Bank completed the acquisition of First Active plc, for a cash consideration of €887 million.

In March 2004, RBS completed the purchase of the credit card business of People's Bank in the US.

In August 2004, Citizens completed the acquisition of Charter One Financial, Inc. for a cash consideration of US$10.1 billion.

The Group has adopted Financial Reporting Standard 17 ‘Retirement Benefits’ (“FRS 17”) – the standard that replaces SSAP24 ‘Pension Costs’. The effect on prior years of adopting FRS 17 is shown on page 85.

Total income

The Group achieved strong growth in income during 2004. Total income was up 18% or £3,473 million to £22,754 million. Excluding acquisitions and at constant exchange rates, total income was up by 11%, £2,004 million.

Net interest income increased by 11% to £9,208 million and represents 40% of total income (2003 – 43%). Excluding acquisitions and at constant exchange rates, net interest income was up 8%. Average loans and advances to customers and average customer deposits grew by 19% and 10% respectively.

Non-interest income increased by 23% to £13,546 million and represents 60% of total income (2003 – 57%). Excluding acquisitions and at constant exchange rates, non-interest income was up 13%. There was good growth in transmission income and other fees, up 17% while general insurance premium income increased by 58%, reflecting organic growth and the acquisition of Churchill in September 2003. Gross income from rental assets grew by 18%, reflecting strong growth in operating lease assets.

Net interest margin

The Group's net interest margin at 2.92% was in line with expectations. Excluding the acquisition of First Active, the Group's net interest margin was down 0.03% from 2.97% in 2003, principally as a result of strong organic growth in mortgage lending and the increased funding cost of rental assets, the income from which is included in other income.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses rose by 14% to £10,846 million to support the strong growth in business volumes. Included in operating expenses are integration costs which in 2004 were £269 million principally relating to the integration of Churchill and the acquisitions by Citizens.

Cost:income ratio

The Group's ratio of operating expenses to total income improved further to 47.7% from 49.4%.

Net insurance claims

General insurance claims, after reinsurance, increased by 59% to £3,480 million. Excluding Churchill, the increase was 20%, consistent with volume growth and business mix.

Provisions

The profit and loss charge for bad and doubtful debts and amounts written off fixed asset investments was £1,511 million compared with £1,494 million in 2003. The charge for provisions in 2004 represented 0.41% of gross loans and advances to customers, compared with 0.57% in 2003.

Credit quality

Credit quality remains strong with no material change during 2004 in the distribution by grade of the Group's total risk assets.

The ratio of risk elements in lending to gross loans and advances to customers improved to 1.58% (2003 – 2.01%). Risk elements in lending and potential problem loans represented 1.66% of gross loans and advances to customers (2003 – 2.24%).

Provision coverage of risk elements in lending and potential problem loans improved to 73% (2003 – 68%).

Earnings and dividends

Basic earnings per ordinary share increased by 79%, from 76.9p to 138.0p. The final dividend on the Additional Value Shares paid in December 2003 reduced earnings per ordinary share for that year by 49.9p.

A final dividend of 41.2p per ordinary share is recommended, making a total for the year of 58.0p per share, an increase of 15%. If approved, the final dividend will be paid on 3 June 2005 to shareholders registered on 11 March 2005. The total dividend is covered 2.3 times by earnings.


14

Balance sheet

Total assets were £583 billion at 31 December 2004, 28% higher than total assets of £454 billion at 31 December 2003.

Lending to customers, excluding repurchase agreements and stock borrowing (“reverse repos”), increased in 2004 by 28% or £64.8 billion to £293.3 billion. Excluding acquisitions and reverse repos, lending increased by 18%. Customer deposits, excluding repurchase agreements and stock lending (“repos”), grew in 2004 by 16% or £33.0 billion to £242.9 billion. Excluding acquisitions and repos, deposits increased by 7%.

Although the adoption of FRS 17 has reduced shareholders' funds by £3,220 million (2003 – £2,001 million), this has no effect on the Group's regulatory capital at 31 December 2004.

Capital ratios at 31 December 2004 were 7.0% (tier 1) and 11.7% (total), against 7.4% (tier 1) and 11.8% (total) at 31 December 2003.

Profitability

The after-tax return on ordinary equity improved from 9.8% to 16.0%. This is based on profit attributable to ordinary shareholders and average ordinary equity.

2003 compared with 2002

Profit

Profit before tax was up 25%, from £4,852 million to £6,076 million.

Total income

The Group achieved strong growth in income during 2003. Total income was up 13% or £2,265 million to £19,281 million. Non-interest income accounted for 57% of total income. Excluding acquisitions, total income rose by 10%.

Net interest income increased by 6% to £8,301 million and represented 43% of total income (2002 – 46%). Average loans and advances to customers and average customer deposits grew by 12% and 8% respectively. The benefit of this growth more than offset the impact on net interest income of the Competition Commission inquiry into SME banking in the UK and the lower interest rate environment in the UK and the US which reduced income earned from deposits and investments.

Non-interest income increased by 20% to £10,980 million and represented 57% of total income (2002 – 54%). Fees receivable were up 8% with good growth in lending, transmission and card related fees reflecting higher volumes. General insurance premium income grew strongly, reflecting volume growth in both motor and home insurance products, and the acquisition of Churchill. In addition, volumes in financial markets were up strongly in both the UK and the US reflecting growth in customer-driven activity in interest rate protection, mortgage securitisation and foreign exchange. Income from rental assets grew by 17% to £1,088 million, reflecting the growth in operating leases and investment properties.

Net interest margin

The Group’s net interest margin at 2.97% was, in line with the first half, down from 3.13% in 2002 due to a reduced benefit from interest-free funds arising from the lower interest rate environment, and the outcome of the Competition Commission inquiry into SME banking.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses rose by 1% to £9,516 million. Included in operating expenses are integration costs which in 2003 were £229 million, of which, £143 million related to the final elements of the NatWest integration and £86 million related to other acquisitions, including Citizens’ acquisitions and Churchill. All integration initiatives in relation to NatWest have been implemented. The programme benefits, comprising £890 million annual revenue benefits and £1,440 million annual cost savings, were fully implemented less than three years after the acquisition of NatWest. Total costs for the integration programme were £2.3 billion. Since 6 March 2000 the integration initiatives have contributed a cumulative £5.6 billion to the Group.

Cost:income ratio

The strong growth in income together with tight cost management resulted in a further improvement in the Group’s ratio of operating expenses to total income, to 49.4% from 55.6%.

Net insurance claims

General insurance claims, after reinsurance, increased by 63% to £2,195 million. Excluding Churchill, the increase was 29%, consistent with volume growth in the component parts of the insurance division.

Provisions

The profit and loss charge for bad debts and amounts written off fixed asset investments was £1,494 million compared with £1,345 million in 2002. The profit and loss charge is in line with the growth in loans and advances.

Credit quality

There was no material change during the year in the distribution by grade of the Group’s total risk assets.

The ratio of risk elements in lending to gross loans and advances to customers at 2.01% at 31 December 2003 showed an improving trend (31 December 2002 – 2.14%).

Risk elements in lending and potential problem loans represented 2.24% of gross loans and advances to customers compared with 2.66% at 31 December 2002.

15



Operating and financial review continued

Earnings and dividends

Basic earnings per ordinary share increased by 9%, from 70.6p to 76.9p.

The final dividend of 55p per share amounting to £1.5 billion was paid on 1 December 2003 to the holders of the AVS issued in connection with the acquisition of NatWest. A total of £1 per AVS amounting to £2.7 billion in aggregate was paid over three years to shareholders in accordance with the original schedule.

The total ordinary dividend for the year was 50.3p per ordinary share an increase of 15%. The total dividend was covered 1.5 times by earnings.

Balance sheet

Total assets were £454 billion at 31 December 2003, 11% higher than total assets of £411 billion at 31 December 2002.

Lending to customers, excluding repurchase agreements and stock borrowing (“reverse repos”), increased by 13% or £27 billion to £228 billion. Customer deposits, excluding repurchase agreements and stock lending (“repos”), grew by 8% or £16 billion to £210 billion.

Capital ratios at 31 December 2003 were 7.4% (tier 1) and 11.8% (total), against 7.3% (tier 1) and 11.7% (total) at 31 December 2002.

Profitability

The after-tax return on ordinary equity was 9.8% compared with 8.8% for 2002. This is based on profit attributable to ordinary shareholders and average equity shareholders’ funds.

Acquisitions

In January 2003, Citizens completed the acquisition of Pennsylvania-based commercial bank, Commonwealth Bancorp, Inc. for a cash consideration of US$450 million.

In April 2003, Citizens announced the acquisition of Port Financial Corp., the holding company of the Massachusetts savings bank, CambridgePort Bank for a cash consideration of US$285 million. This transaction was completed on 31 July 2003.

In May 2003, RBS announced the acquisition of Nordisk Renting AB, a Swedish leasing company, for a cash consideration of €104 million. This transaction was completed on 2 June 2003.

In May 2003, RBS announced the acquisition of the credit card and personal loans portfolios of Frankfurt-based Santander Direkt Bank for a cash consideration of €486 million. This transaction was completed on 31 July 2003.

In June 2003, RBS announced the acquisition of Churchill Insurance Group PLC for a cash consideration of £1.1 billion. This transaction was completed on 1 September 2003.

In July 2003, Citizens announced the acquisition of Community Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for Community National Bank, for a cash consideration of US$116 million. This transaction was completed on 31 October 2003.

In September 2003, Citizens announced the acquisition of Thistle Group Holdings, Co., the holding company for Roxborough Manayunk Bank, for a cash consideration of US$136 million. This transaction was completed on 5 January 2004.

In October 2003, Coutts Bank (Switzerland) Limited announced the acquisition of a Swiss private bank, Bank von Ernst & Cie AG, for a cash consideration of Swiss Francs 500 million. This transaction was completed on 28 November 2003.

In October 2003, RBS announced that it had agreed terms for a recommended acquisition of First Active plc, for a cash consideration of €887 million. This transaction was completed on 5 January 2004.

On 3 February 2004, RBS announced that it had agreed terms with People’s Bank of Connecticut to purchase their credit card portfolio. This transaction was completed on 5 March 2004.

Disposals

In May 2003, RBS announced the sale of the Miami-based Latin American private banking operations of Coutts Group to Santander Central Hispano. The cash consideration was US$81 million. This transaction was completed on 31 July 2003.


16


Analysis of results

Net interest income 2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
 
Interest receivable 16,696   13,998   13,561
Interest payable (7,488 )   (5,697 )   (5,712 )
 
Net interest income 9,208   8,301   7,849
 
%   %   %
 
Gross yield on interest-earning assets of the banking business 5.30   5.00   5.41
Cost of interest-bearing liabilities of the banking business (2.70 )   (2.32 )   (2.70 )
 
Interest spread of the banking business 2.60   2.68   2.71
Benefit from interest-free funds 0.32   0.29   0.42
Net interest margin of the banking business 2.92   2.97   3.13
 
Yields, spreads and margins of the banking business %   %   %
 
Gross yield    
       Group 5.30   5.00   5.41
       UK 5.70   5.20   5.56
       Overseas 4.38   4.44   4.97
Interest spread    
       Group 2.60   2.68   2.71
       UK 2.68   2.68   2.72
       Overseas 2.48   2.71   2.69
Net interest margin    
       Group 2.92   2.97   3.13
       UK 2.96   2.95   3.14
       Overseas 2.83   3.02   3.09
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc base rate 4.38   3.69   4.00
London inter-bank three month offered rates:    
       Sterling 4.64   3.74   4.06
       Eurodollar 1.62   1.22   1.80
       Euro 2.11   2.33   3.32
 

Notes:
(1) Gross yield is the interest rate earned on average interest-earning assets of the banking business.
(2) Interest spread is the difference between the gross yield and the interest rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities of the banking business.
(3) Net interest margin is net interest income of the banking business as a percentage of average interest-earning assets of the banking business.

2004 compared with 2003

Group – The net interest margin decreased from 2.97% to 2.92%. The interest spread declined reflecting principally a change in mix towards relatively lower margin mortgage business including the acquisition of First Active. This was partially offset by an increase in the benefit from interest-free funds due to increased volumes and movements in interest rates.

UK – The UK net interest margin increased slightly from 2.95% to 2.96%. An increase in the benefit from interest-free funds, due to movements in interest rates, and improvements in corporate lending margins were largely offset by growth in the mortgage business.

Overseas – The Overseas net interest margin decreased from 3.02% to 2.83%. This reduction reflected the continued tightening of asset spreads in the US, together with the growth in mortgage business following the acquisition of First Active. Higher volumes together with movements in interest rates led to an increase in the benefit of interest-free funds.

2003 compared with 2002

Net interest income increased by 6%, £452 million, to £8,301 million. Average interest-earning assets of the Group’s banking business increased by 12%, £29.1 billion, to £279.7 billion. Within this, average loans and advances to customers were up 12%, £23.3 billion, to £213.3 billion due to growth in both corporate and personal lending.

Interest spread for the Group as a whole decreased from 2.71% to 2.68%. Interest-free balances fell partly due to the outcome of the Competition Commission inquiry into SME banking. This, together with the lower interest rate environment contributed to the reduction in the benefit of interest-free funds from 0.42% to 0.29% giving a decline in net interest margin from 3.13% to 2.97%.

UK – Interest spread decreased from 2.72% to 2.68% with product margins remaining stable despite growth in the relatively lower margin mortgage business. The reduced benefit of interest-free funds due to the rate and volume impact described above resulted in the decrease in net interest margin from 3.14% to 2.95%.

Overseas – Interest spread increased from 2.69% to 2.71%. Asset spreads tightened in the US due to lower interest rates; however, this was more than offset by overall mix and volume improvements elsewhere. Lower interest rates led to a reduction in the benefit from interest-free funds, resulting in the decline in net interest margin from 3.09% to 3.02%.


17



Operating and financial review continued

Average balance sheet and related interest

  2004     2003*
 
  Average
balance
£m		 Interest
£m		 Rate
%		     Average balance
£m		 Interest
£m		 Rate
%
Assets                
Treasury and other eligible bills – UK 835 34 4.07     1,378 48 3.48
Treasury and other eligible bills – Overseas 62 1 1.61     64 1 1.56
Loans and advances to banks – UK 13,528 527 3.90     13,724 459 3.34
Loans and advances to banks – Overseas 9,189 264 2.87     9,559 212 2.22
Loans and advances to customers – UK 184,837 11,152 6.03     168,390 9,519 5.65
Loans and advances to customers – Overseas 69,118 3,201 4.63     44,862 2,240 4.99
Debt securities – UK 19,549 756 3.87     23,810 754 3.17
Debt securities – Overseas 18,132 761 4.20     17,927 765 4.27
       
   
Total interest-earning assets – banking business 315,250 16,696 5.30     279,714 13,998 5.00
   
 
 
Total interest-earning assets – trading business (3) 133,353     96,648
 
 
Total interest-earning assets 448,603     376,362
Non-interest-earning assets 70,510     66,060
 
 
Total assets 519,113     442,422
 
 
Percentage of assets applicable to overseas operations 33.1 %     32.4 %
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity    
Deposits by banks – UK 35,059 1,060 3.02     28,220 703 2.49
Deposits by banks – Overseas 16,425 398 2.42     9,565 218 2.28
Customer accounts: demand deposits – UK 67,519 1,569 2.32     64,469 1,028 1.59
Customer accounts: demand deposits – Overseas 11,580 147 1.27     9,166 70 0.76
Customer accounts: savings deposits – UK 24,147 673 2.79     18,653 503 2.70
Customer accounts: savings deposits – Overseas 18,349 252 1.37     16,310 260 1.59
Customer accounts: other time deposits – UK 51,591 1,712 3.32     49,880 1,478 2.96
Customer accounts: other time deposits – Overseas 20,725 479 2.31     16,642 374 2.25
Debt securities in issue – UK 37,097 1,229 3.31     29,977 914 3.05
Debt securities in issue – Overseas 12,320 229 1.86     9,630 119 1.24
Loan capital – UK 17,959 665 3.70     15,342 534 3.48
Loan capital – Overseas 235 15 6.38     154 16 10.39
Internal funding of trading business – UK (35,317 ) (920 ) 2.60     (21,258 ) (497 ) 2.34
Internal funding of trading business – Overseas (758 ) (20 ) 2.64     (1,651 ) (23 ) 1.39
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities – banking business 276,931 7,488 2.70     245,099 5,697 2.32
 
 
                                               – trading business (3) 131,743     93,466
 
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities 408,674     338,565
Non-interest-bearing liabilities    
Demand deposits – UK 17,765     17,589
Demand deposits – Overseas 9,101     7,330
Other liabilities 53,726     52,810
Shareholders’ funds – equity 26,538     22,973
Shareholders’ funds – non-equity 3,309     3,155
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 519,113     442,422
 
 
Percentage of liabilities applicable to overseas operations 30.6 %     30.6 %
 
 

*  restated (see page 85)
 
Notes:
(1) The analysis into UK and Overseas has been compiled on the basis of location of office.
(2) Loans and advances to customers include non-accrual loans. Interest income includes income on non-accruing loans only to the extent cash payments have been received.
(3) Interest receivable and interest payable on trading assets and liabilities are included in dealing profits.

18



      2002*    
 
  Average
balance
£m		   Interest
£m		   Rate
%
Assets          
Treasury and other eligible bills – UK 910   24   2.64
Treasury and other eligible bills – Overseas 351   6   1.71
Loans and advances to banks – UK 13,439   532   3.96
Loans and advances to banks – Overseas 9,811   304   3.10
Loans and advances to customers – UK 154,202   9,141   5.93
Loans and advances to customers – Overseas 35,759   1,963   5.49
Debt securities – UK 17,950   675   3.76
Debt securities – Overseas 18,188   916   5.04
     
Total interest-earning assets – banking business 250,610   13,561   5.41
 
                          – trading business (3) 78,380    
 
Total interest-earning assets 328,990    
Non-interest-earning assets 64,867    
 
Total assets 393,857    
 
Percentage of assets applicable to overseas operations 32.0 %    
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity    
Deposits by banks – UK 21,090   544   2.58
Deposits by banks – Overseas 9,058   215   2.37
Customer accounts: demand deposits – UK 58,618   1,062   1.81
Customer accounts: demand deposits – Overseas 8,275   99   1.20
Customer accounts: savings deposits – UK 16,002   463   2.89
Customer accounts: savings deposits – Overseas 11,742   229   1.95
Customer accounts: other time deposits – UK 45,902   1,542   3.36
Customer accounts: other time deposits – Overseas 16,264   462   2.84
Debt securities in issue – UK 24,154   965   4.00
Debt securities in issue – Overseas 8,693   209   2.40
Loan capital – UK 13,154   640   4.87
Loan capita  – Overseas 166   17   10.24
Internal funding of trading business – UK (20,129 )   (709 )   3.52
Internal funding of trading business – Overseas (1,301 )   (26 )   2.00
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities – banking business 211,688   5,712   2.70
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities – trading business (3) 75,059    
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities 286,747    
Non-interest-bearing liabilities    
Demand deposits – UK 21,848    
Demand deposits – Overseas 6,401    
Other liabilities 52,047    
Shareholders’ funds – equity 23,075    
Shareholders’ funds – non-equity 3,739    
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 393,857    
 
   
Percentage of liabilities applicable to overseas operations 30.4 %
 

    * restated (see page 85)
 
Notes:
(1) The analysis into UK and Overseas has been compiled on the basis of location of office.
(2) Loans and advances to customers include non-accrual loans. Interest income includes income on non-accruing loans only to the extent cash payments have been received.
(3) Interest receivable and interest payable on trading assets and liabilities are included in dealing profits.

19




Operating and financial review continued

Analysis of change in net interest income – volume and rate analysis

Volume and rate variances have been calculated based on movements in average balances over the period and changes in interest rates on average interest-earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities. Changes due to a combination of volume and rate are allocated pro rata to volume and rate movements.

  2004 over 2003     2003 over 2002
 
   
  Increase/(decrease) due to changes in:     Increase/(decrease) due to changes in:
                                 
  Average
volume
£m 		    Average
rate
£m 		  Net
change
£m		     Average
volume
£m 		  Average
rate
£m		   Net
change
£m
 
Interest-earning assets                          
Treasury and other eligible bills                          
       UK (21 )   7   (14 )   15   9   24
       Overseas ––   ––   ––   (5 )   ––   (5 )
Loans and advances to banks            
       UK (7 )   75   68   11   (84 )   (73 )
       Overseas (8 )   60   52   (8 )   (84 )   (92 )
Loans and advances to customers            
       UK 967   666   1,633   820   (442 )   378
       Overseas 1,133   (172 )   961   467   (190 )   277
Debt securities          
       UK (148 )   150   2   196   (117 )   79
       Overseas 9   (13 )   (4 )   (13 )   (138 )   (151 )
 
Total interest receivable of the banking business            
       UK 791   898   1,689   1,042   (634 )   408
       Overseas 1,134   (125 )   1,009   441   (412 )   29
 
1,925   773   2,698   1,483   (1,046 )   437
 
Interest-bearing liabilities            
Deposits by banks          
       UK (190 )   (167 )   (357 )   (179 )   20   (159 )
       Overseas (166 )   (14 )   (180 )   (12 )   9   (3 )
Customer accounts: demand deposits            
       UK (51 )   (490 )   (541 )   (101 )   135   34
       Overseas (22 )   (55 )   (77 )   (10 )   39   29
Customer accounts: savings deposits            
       UK (153 )   (17 )   (170 )   (72 )   32   (40 )
       Overseas (30 )   38   8   (78 )   47   (31 )
Customer accounts: other time deposits            
       UK (51 )   (183 )   (234 )   (128 )   192   64
       Overseas (95 )   (10 )   (105 )   (10 )   98   88
Debt securities in issue          
       UK (232 )   (83 )   (315 )   (205 )   256   51
       Overseas (39 )   (71 )   (110 )   (20 )   110   90
Loan capital          
       UK (96 )   (35 )   (131 )   (96 )   202   106
       Overseas (7 )   8   1   1   ––   1
Internal funding of trading business            
       UK 362   61   423   38   (250 )   (212 )
       Overseas (17 )   14   (3 )   6   (9 )   (3 )
 
Total interest payable of the banking business            
       UK (411 )   (914 )   (1,325 )   (743 )   587   (156 )
       Overseas (376 )   (90 )   (466 )   (123 )   294   171
 
(787 )   (1,004 )   (1,791 )   (866 )   881   15
 
Movement in net interest income            
       UK 380   (16 )   364   299   (47 )   252
       Overseas 758   (215 )   543   318   (118 )   200
 
1,138   (231 )   907   617   (165 )   452
 

20



           
Non-interest income 2004
£m		   2003*
£m		   2002*
£m
Dividend income 79   58   58
Fees and commissions receivable 6,634   5,693   5,249
Fees and commissions payable (1,954 )   (1,337 )   (965 )
Dealing profits 1,988   1,793   1,462
Other operating income 1,855   1,650   1,410
 
8,602   7,857   7,214
 
General insurance premium income    
Earned premiums 5,357   3,627   2,442
Reinsurance (413 )   (504 )   (489 )
 
4,944   3,123   1,953
 
13,546   10,980   9,167
 
 

Note:
*   FRS 17 restatements are detailed on page 85. In addition, certain income has been re-classified from net fees and commissions to insurance premium income in order to conform the accounting policies of Direct Line and Churchill.

2004 compared with 2003

Non-interest income increased by £2,566 million, 23% to £13,546 million and represents 60% of total income (2003 –57%). Excluding acquisitions and at constant exchange rates, non-interest income was up 13%.

Within non-interest income, fees and commissions receivable increased by 17% or £941 million, to £6,634 million. This reflected strong growth in lending, transmission and card related fees together with increased insurance brokerage and ATM income.

Fees and commissions payable increased by £617 million to £1,954 million reflecting higher brokerage costs in CBFM due to greater volumes of trading and structuring business and fees paid in Retail Direct in support of higher volumes. Commissions payable to brokers and intermediaries in the general insurance business were up reflecting the acquisition of Churchill in September 2003.

Dealing profits at £1,988 million were up £195 million, 11% on 2003. Growth was achieved across all customer segments and product classes with further diversification of dealing revenues in the US to compensate for lower residential refinancing volume than the previous year.

Other operating income increased by 12% to £1,855 million. This was principally due to higher gross income from rental assets reflecting strong growth in operating lease assets.

General insurance premium income, after reinsurance, rose by 58%, or £1,821 million to £4,944 million reflecting organic growth and the acquisition of Churchill. Excluding Churchill, the growth was 17% reflecting volume growth in motor and home insurance products.

2003 compared with 2002

Non-interest income increased by 20%, or £1,813 million, to £10,980 million. Non-interest income represented 57% of total income. Excluding general insurance premium income, non-interest income rose by 9% or £643 million to £7,857 million reflecting strong performances in CBFM, up 18% or £670 million and Retail Direct, up 17%, or £145 million.

Within non-interest income, fees and commissions receivable increased by 8% or £444 million, to £5,693 million. This reflected an increase in lending and transmission fees, and good growth in insurance brokerage, cards related fees and ATM income.

Fees and commissions payable increased by £372 million to £1,337 million reflecting higher brokerage costs in CBFM, fees paid in Retail Direct in support of higher volumes and commissions payable to brokers and intermediaries following the acquisition of Churchill.

Dealing profits at £1,793 million were up £331 million, 23% on 2002. This reflected strong growth in volumes in all product areas. The performance in the first half of the year benefited from the unusually high levels of demand for mortgage backed securities in the US.

Other operating income increased by 17% to £1,650 million. This was due to growth in income from rental assets (comprising operating lease assets and investment properties) and higher investment securities gains.

General insurance premium income, after reinsurance, rose by 60%, or £1,170 million to £3,123 million. Excluding the acquisition of Churchill Insurance the growth was 25% or £490 million reflecting volume growth in motor and home insurance products.


21





Operating and financial review continued

Operating expenses*

  2004
£m 		  2003**
£m 		  2002**
£m
Administrative expenses:          
Staff costs 5,344   4,653   4,584
Premises and equipment 1,184   1,073   1,006
Other administrative 2,296   2,108   2,253
Total administrative expenses 8,824   7,834   7,843
Depreciation and amortisation 2,022   1,682   1,626
  10,846 9,516 9,469
 

*   includes integration costs (see page 23)

**  restated (see page 85)

2004 compared with 2003

Operating expenses rose by 14% to £10,846 million to support the strong growth in business volumes.

Staff costs were up £691 million, 15% to £5,344 million reflecting acquisitions, business growth and higher pension costs following the implementation of FRS 17. The number of staff increased by 15,700, 13% to 136,600. Of the increase 10,500 was due to acquisitions.

Premises and equipment expenses increased by £111 million, 10% to £1,184 million reflecting investment to upgrade the property portfolio in major UK centres to support the core business.

The increase in other administrative expenses reflected business volume growth and continued expenditure in support of Group wide projects.

The Group's ratio of operating expenses to total income improved further to 47.7% from 49.4%.

2003 compared with 2002

Operating expenses rose by 1% or £47 million to £9,516 million. This increased expenditure was in support of strong organic growth and customer service improvements.

Staff costs were up £69 million, to £4,653 million reflecting acquisitions and business growth. The number of staff increased by 9,100, 8% to 120,900. Acquisitions in the year added 9,700 staff of which 8,500 related to Churchill.

Premises and equipment expenses increased by £67 million, 7% to £1,073 million reflecting the continuing upgrade of the property portfolio in major UK centres to support the core business.

The increase in other administrative expenses reflected higher business volumes and included expenditure in support of Group wide projects.

Continued income growth coupled with a rigorous approach to cost management further improved the Group’s cost:income ratio, to 49.4% from 55.6%.


22





Integration costs (included in operating expenses)          
2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Staff costs 113   125   530
Premises and equipment 34   31   127
Other administrative expenses 120   73   298
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 2   –   2
269   229   957

Integration costs in 2004 comprise £87 million relating to the integration of Churchill, £91 million relating to the integration of Charter One and £91 million in respect of other acquisitions.

Integration costs in 2003 comprise £143 million relating to the integration of NatWest, £63 million relating to the integration of Citizens' acquisitions and £23 million in respect of other acquisitions.

Integration costs in 2002 comprise £810 million relating to the integration of NatWest and £147 million relating to the integration of Citizens' acquisitions.

Accruals in relation to integration costs are set out below.

At 31 December
2003
£m 		    Currency translation
adjustments
£m 		  Charge to profit
and loss account
£m 		    Utilised during
the year
£m 		  At 31 December
2004
£m
Staff costs – redundancy 19     –   19     (27 )   11
Staff costs – other 27     (1 )   94     (91 )   29
Premises and equipment 2     (1 )   34     (22 )   13
Other 33     (2 )   122     (109 )   44
81     (4 )   269     (249 )   97

23


Operating and financial review continued

Provisions

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
 
New provisions 1,658   1,566   1,408
less: recoveries of amounts previously written off (147 )   (72 )   (63 )
 
Charge to profit and loss account 1,511   1,494   1,345
 
Comprising:    
Provisions for bad and doubtful debts 1,428   1,461   1,286
Amounts written off fixed asset investments 83   33   59
 
Charge to profit and loss account 1,511   1,494   1,345
 

2004 compared with 2003

New provisions were up 6%, £92 million to £1,658 million. Recoveries of amounts previously written more than doubled to £147 million. Consequently the net charge to the profit and loss account was up £17 million, 1% to £1,511 million.

Bad debt provisions amounted to £1,428 million compared with £1,461 million in 2003, a decrease of 2%. Amounts written off fixed asset investments were up from £33 million in 2003 to £83 million.

Total balance sheet provisions for bad and doubtful debts amounted to £4,228 million compared with £3,929 million at 31 December 2003. Total provision coverage (the ratio of total balance sheet provisions to total risk elements in lending) remained stable at 76%.

The ratio of total balance sheet provisions to total risk elements in lending and potential problem loans increased to 73% compared with 68% at 31 December 2003.

2003 compared with 2002

New provisions were up 11%, £158 million to £1,566 million. Recoveries of amounts previously written off were up £9 million, 14%, to £72 million. Consequently the net charge to the profit and loss account was up £149 million, 11% to £1,494 million.

Bad debt provisions amounted to £1,461 million compared with £1,286 million in 2002, an increase of 14%. The increased charge was in line with the growth in lending during 2003. Amounts written off fixed asset investments, largely in the second half of the year, were down £26 million to £33 million compared with £59 million in 2002.

Total balance sheet provisions for bad and doubtful debts amounted to £3,929 million compared with £3,927 million at 31 December 2002. Total provision coverage (the ratio of total balance sheet provisions to total risk elements in lending) was 76% compared with 80% at 31 December 2002.

The ratio of total balance sheet provisions to total risk elements in lending and potential problem loans increased to 68% compared with 65% at 31 December 2002.

Taxation

  2004
£m		   2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 2,155   1,888   1,582
 
%   %   %
 
UK corporation tax rate 30.0   30.0   30.0
Effective tax rate 31.2   31.1   32.6
 
 
The actual tax charge differs from the expected tax charge computed by applying the standard rate of UK corporation tax as follows:
     
  2004
£m		   2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
 
Expected tax charge 2,075   1,823   1,456
Goodwill amortisation 241   200   183
Contributions to employee share schemes (32 )   (35 )   (40 )
Non-deductible items 227   248   179
Non-taxable items (251 )   (207 )   (188 )
Capital allowances in excess of depreciation (415 )   (626 )   (340 )
Other 45   16   6
Adjustments in respect of prior periods (168 )   (77 )   (15 )
 
Current tax charge for year 1,722   1,342   1,241
Deferred taxation:    
Origination and reversal of timing differences 482   581   397
Adjustments in respect of prior periods (49 )   (35 )   (56 )
 
Actual tax charge 2,155   1,888   1,582
 

* restated (see page 85)

24

Divisional performance

The contribution of each division before goodwill amortisation and integration costs and, where appropriate, Manufacturing costs is detailed below.

2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
 
Corporate Banking and Financial Markets 4,265   3,620   3,261
Retail Banking* 3,279   3,170   3,074
Retail Direct* 1,040   881   708
Manufacturing* (2,439 )   (2,114 )   (1,952 )
Wealth Management* 468   402   407
RBS Insurance* 862   609   456
Ulster Bank* 468   354   318
Citizens 1,037   857   766
Central items** (879 )   (711 )   (498 )
 
Profit before goodwill amortisation and integration costs 8,101   7,068   6,540
Goodwill amortisation 915   763   731  
Integration costs 269   229   957  
 
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 6,917   6,076   4,852  
 

* prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities from Wealth Management to Retail Banking and from other divisions, principally RBS Insurance and Ulster Bank, to Manufacturing.
** restated following the implementation of FRS 17


The performance of each of the divisions is reviewed on pages 26 to 37.

25


Operating and financial review continued

Corporate Banking and Financial Markets

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Net interest income excluding funding cost of rental assets 2,959   2,653   2,631
Funding cost of rental assets (414 )   (329 )   (282 )
 
Net interest income 2,545   2,324   2,349
 
Fees and commissions receivable 1,723   1,537   1,394
Fees and commissions payable (277 )   (220 )   (157 )
Dealing profits (before associated direct costs) 1,855   1,661   1,338
Income on rental assets 1,282   1,088   931
Other operating income 381   307   197
 
Non-interest income 4,964   4,373   3,703
 
Total income 7,509   6,697   6,052
 
Direct expenses    
       – staff costs 1,642   1,410   1,230
       – other 412   394   375
       – operating lease depreciation 610   518   461
 
2,664   2,322   2,066
 
Contribution before provisions 4,845   4,375   3,986
Provisions 580   755   725
 
Contribution 4,265   3,620   3,261
 
         
         
£bn   £bn   £bn
 
Total assets* 265.3   219.0   203.4
Loans and advances to customers – gross*    
       – banking book 114.9   99.3   92.1
       – trading book 10.0   5.0   3.6
Rental assets 11.2   10.1   7.0
Customer deposits* 74.9   68.6   62.2
Weighted risk assets – banking 160.9   140.0   125.2
Weighted risk assets – trading 16.9   12.6   11.3
 
*excluding repos and reverse repos    

2004 compared with 2003

Contribution increased by 18%, £645 million to £4,265 million reflecting growth in all business areas.

Total income was up 12% or £812 million to £7,509 million. Strong growth in all locations was partially masked by the effect of stronger sterling on the translation of income from Europe and North American businesses. At constant exchange rates, income grew by 14% and contribution was up 20%.

Net interest income, excluding the cost of funding rental assets, increased 12% or £306 million to £2,959 million. Average loans and advances to customers of the banking business increased by 10% or £9.5 billion to £103.8 billion. The second half of 2004 saw a modest recovery in large corporate lending. Average customer deposits within the banking business increased by 8% or £5.0 billion to £66.0 billion. An improvement in margins was achieved through strong growth in our UK mid-corporate relationships.

Fees receivable rose by £186 million, 12% to £1,723 million with growth driven by lending, structured finance and capital markets activities. Fees payable, including brokerage, were up £57 million to £277 million due to the greater volumes of trading and structuring business.

Dealing profits, which is income (before associated direct costs) arising from our role in providing customers with debt and risk management products in interest rate, currency and credit asset classes, rose by 12% to £1,855 million. Growth was achieved across all our customer segments and product classes with further diversification of dealing revenues in the US to compensate for lower residential mortgage refinancing volume than in 2003. The Group's trading value-at-risk (VaR) remains modest and the average VaR was £10.8 million (2003 – £9.4 million).

The asset rental business, comprising operating lease assets and investment properties continued to grow strongly. Rental assets increased to £11.2 billion and income after deducting funding costs and operating lease depreciation increased by 7%, £17 million to £258 million.

Other operating income also grew strongly, up £74 million or 24% to £381 million.

Direct expenses increased by 15% or £342 million to £2,664 million. Excluding operating lease depreciation, operating expenses were up 14%, £250 million. This was mainly due to the mix effect of faster growth in businesses with inherently higher cost:income ratios, such as Capital Markets and our overseas businesses, together with the investment in new revenue initiatives in the US.

The charge for provisions for bad debts and amounts written off fixed asset investments amounted to £580 million, a decrease of 23%, £175 million. The reduction reflects an improvement in corporate credit quality and the economic environment in 2004.


26

2003 compared with 2002

Contribution increased by 11% or £359 million to £3,620 million. As well as in the UK, the division also achieved good growth in Europe and North America.

Total income was up 11% or £645 million to £6,697 million with strong growth across all business areas.

Average loans and advances to customers of the banking business increased by 9% or £7.5 billion to £94.3 billion. Lending margin was maintained. Average customer deposits within the banking businesses increased by 7% or £4.1 billion to £61.0 billion; however, the lower interest rate environment adversely affected deposit margins as it reduced the benefit of interest free funds. Net interest income was further impacted by the effect of implementing from 1 January 2003 the pricing remedies agreed following the Competition Commission inquiry into SME banking and by lower money market income, due to less favourable market conditions.

The asset rental business comprising operating leases and investment properties, grew strongly. Rental assets increased to £10.1 billion and net income after deducting funding costs and operating lease depreciation increased by 28%, £53 million to £241 million.

Fees receivable rose by £143 million, 10% to £1,537 million due to growth in fees related to lending and from the expansion and success of capital markets activities. Fees payable including brokerage were up £63 million to £220 million due to higher volumes in Financial Markets.

Dealing profits which is income (before associated direct costs) arising from our role in providing customers with debt and risk management products in interest rate, currency and credit asset classes, rose by 24% to £1,661 million providing incremental profit contribution of some £170 million. There was steady growth in underlying customer volumes in all product areas. While first half performance was particularly strong given the unusually high levels of demand for mortgage backed securities in the United States, dealing revenues in the second half were up 10% on the prior year period, in line with the growth in income for the division as a whole.

Other operating income was up £110 million, 56% to £307 million partially due to the full year effect of the inclusion of Dixon Motors’ gross profit.

Direct expenses increased by 12% or £256 million to £2,322 million. Excluding the effect of the acquisition of Nordisk Renting and Dixon Motors and operating lease depreciation, operating expenses were up 10%, £161 million. This was due to performance related costs associated with the strong growth in trading revenues, expansion in all business areas and continued investment in capital market activities and in the growing overseas franchise.

The charge for provisions for bad debts and amounts written off fixed asset investments amounted to £755 million, an increase of £30 million. The charge in the second half of the year was £351 million, 13% lower than the first half. The increase in provisions of 4% over last year was less than the growth in lending of 9%, reflecting an improvement in credit quality and the economic environment during 2003.


27




Operating and financial review continued

Retail Banking

  2004
£m		     2003*
£m 		    2002*
£m		  
 
Net interest income 3,112     2,959     2,849  
Non-interest income 1,630     1,514     1,430  
 
Total income 4,742     4,473     4,279  
 
Direct expenses        
       – staff costs 834     793     729  
       – other 240     237     263  
 
1,074     1,030     992  
 
Contribution before provisions 3,668     3,443     3,287  
Provisions 389     273     213  
 
Contribution 3,279     3,170     3,074  
 
               
£bn     £bn     £bn  
 
Total banking assets 74.2     63.9     57.4  
Loans and advances to customers – gross        
       – mortgages 44.1     36.6     32.1  
       – small business 15.2     13.8     12.5  
       – consumer lending 12.9     11.4     11.0  
Customer deposits 70.6     66.5     61.9  
Weighted risk assets 49.7     42.9     38.8  
 

* prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities from Wealth Management.

2004 compared with 2003

The division continued to achieve strong volume growth across all key product areas – in particular mortgages, loans and savings – supported by increased customer numbers. As a result, income increased by 6% or £269 million to £4,742 million, and contribution by 3% or £109 million to £3,279 million.

Net interest income rose by 5% or £153 million to £3,112 million, reflecting strong growth in lending and deposits which more than offset the impact of business mix – particularly strong growth in low risk mortgage lending – and the impact of lower margin in some areas, especially unsecured lending. Average loans to customers, excluding mortgages, grew by 12% or £2.8 billion to £26.5 billion. Average mortgage lending grew by 21% or £7.0 billion to £40.7 billion. Both mortgage and non-mortgage lending have evidenced a slowdown in growth in the second half of the year. Average customer deposits increased by 8% or £4.9 billion to £66.0 billion.

Non-interest income rose by 8% or £116 million to £1,630 million. This reflected higher fee income associated with strong asset growth in both personal and business sectors together with increased volumes of money transmission activity.

Direct expenses increased by 4% or £44 million to £1,074 million. Staff expenses increased 5% or £41 million to £834 million, principally due to the deployment of an additional one thousand customer facing staff in the NatWest network. The increase in other expenses was 1% or £3 million, reflecting rigorous cost management.

The charge for provisions for bad and doubtful debts increased by £116 million to £389 million. The increased charge reflects the anticipated increase in delinquency rates in the NatWest portfolio following growth in unsecured lending in recent years. NatWest credit experience is now broadly consistent with the RBS portfolio which has been stable for a number of years. As reported in the first half, there has also been a higher incidence of fraud which has led to some deterioration in recovery rates.

The overall quality of the loan portfolio, the majority of which is mortgage lending, as measured by probability of default, remained in line with expectations.


28


2003 compared with 2002

The division achieved strong volume growth across all personal product areas - current accounts, mortgages and loans and savings. Despite lower interest rates and the adverse effect of the pricing remedies agreed following the Competition Commission inquiry into SME banking which were implemented from 1 January 2003, income increased by 5% or £194 million to £4,473 million, and contribution by 3% or £96 million to £3,170 million.

Net interest income rose by 4% or £110 million to £2,959 million, reflecting the continued strong growth in customer advances and deposits which was partially offset by the implementation of the Competition Commission pricing remedies and the impact of a lower interest rate environment. Excluding the effect of the Competition Commission the increase was 8%. Average loans to customers, excluding mortgages, grew by 9% or £1.9 billion to £23.7 billion. Average mortgage lending grew by 12% or £3.6 billion to £33.7 billion. Average customer deposits increased by 6% or £3.7 billion to £60.9 billion.

Non-interest income rose by 6% or £84 million to £1,514 million. This reflected further growth in the customer base and a 15% growth in general insurance income to £301 million. Embedded value profits of the life assurance business increased by 14%, or £7 million to £57 million.

Direct expenses increased by 4% or £38 million to £1,030 million. Staff expenses increased 9% or £64 million to £793 million reflecting further investment in customer facing staff.

Other expenses decreased 10% or £26 million to £237 million, as a result of our rigorous approach to management of non-staff costs.

The charge for provisions for bad debts increased by £60 million to £273 million. The overall quality of the loan portfolio remained stable and the increased charge reflected growth in lending over recent years particularly in NatWest since its acquisition.


29


Operating and financial review continued

Retail Direct  
  2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
Net interest income 938   849 749
Non-interest income 1,191   986 841
Total income 2,129   1,835 1,590
Direct expenses  
       – staff costs 259   211 190
       – other 453   446 411
  712   657 601
Contribution before provisions 1,417   1,178 989
Provisions 377   297 281
Contribution 1,040   881 708
 
 
  £bn   £bn   £bn
Total assets 26.9   21.9   19.4
Loans and advances to customers – gross    
   – mortgages 9.2   8.2 7.0
   – other 16.0   13.8 12.4
Customer deposits 4.4   4.4 4.4
Weighted risk assets 21.1   16.8 14.4
* prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities to Manufacturing.


2004 compared with 2003

Contribution increased by 18% or £159 million to £1,040 million.

Total income was up 16% or £294 million to £2,129 million, reflecting continued strong growth across all products, particularly credit cards. Excluding acquisitions income rose by 9%, £155 million, and contribution was up by 14%, £125 million. Net interest income was up 10% or £89 million to £938 million. Average lending rose by 19% to £24.2 billion, of which average mortgage lending was 16% higher at £8.8 billion, mainly in The One account. Average customer deposits were stable. The new MINT branded credit card was launched in December 2003 and while the 0% introductory interest rate for nine months on MINT cards depressed net interest margin, over 711,000 MINT credit cards have been issued and attracted significant balances. During 2004, the total number of customer accounts increased by 2.3 million.

Non-interest income was up 21% or £205 million to £1,191 million, reflecting increased volumes and acquisitions.

Direct expenses increased by 8% or £55 million to £712 million. Staff costs were up 23%, due to the acquisitions and increased headcount to support higher business volumes. Excluding acquisitions, staff costs were up 8%. The increase in other expenses was limited to 2%, as a result of tight cost management and efficiencies within the core businesses.

The charge for provisions for bad debts increased by £80 million or 27% to £377 million, reflecting the growth in lending volumes and the acquisition of the credit card business from People's Bank.

Excluding acquisitions, provisions for bad debts were up 14%, £41 million. Credit metrics across the portfolio remain broadly stable, however consistent with the market there was some increase in the levels of arrears towards the end of the year in credit cards.

2003 compared with 2002

Contribution increased by 24% or £173 million to £881 million.

Total income was up 15% or £245 million to £1,835 million, reflecting continued strong growth in supermarket banking (TPF), mortgages and cards. Net interest income was up 13% or £100 million to £849 million. Average lending rose by 15% to £20.3 billion of which average mortgage lending was 20% higher at £7.6 billion mainly in The One account. Average customer deposits were up 5% to £4.4 billion. During 2003, the total number of customer accounts increased by 1.7 million.

Non-interest income was up 17% or £145 million to £986 million. There was good growth in insurance and ATM income resulting from increased volumes, particularly in TPF and in the Cards Business.

Direct expenses increased by 9% or 7% excluding acquisitions, and other expenses increased by £35 million, 9% (7% excluding acquisitions), with increased processing and operational costs in support of the higher business levels.

The charge for provisions for bad debts increased by £16 million or 6% to £297 million, reflecting growth in lending volumes offset by higher recoveries. The indicators of credit quality remained stable.

30

 

Manufacturing    
  2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
Staff costs 794   671   571
Other costs 1,645   1,443   1,381
Total manufacturing costs 2,439   2,114   1,952
 
Analysis:    
Group Technology 807   686   665
Group Purchasing and Property Operations 854   718   649
Customer Support and other operations 778   710   638
Total manufacturing costs 2,439   2,114   1,952
 
* prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities, principally from RBS Insurance and Ulster Bank.


2004 compared with 2003

Manufacturing’s costs increased by £325 million, 15% to £2,439 million.

Manufacturing is now supporting RBS Insurance and Ulster Bank and of the £325 million increase, £82 million reflects technology and property operations of Churchill (2004 – £96 million; 2003 – £33 million) and First Active (2004 – £19 million; 2003 – £nil) which were acquired in September 2003 and January 2004 respectively.

The balance of the increase was required to support higher business volumes, to upgrade the Group's regional property portfolio and to invest in the Group Efficiency Programme initiatives that are improving the Group's overall efficiency.

A number of initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and customer service were introduced in the year, including a sales prompt system on screens in NatWest branches and in RBS and NatWest telephony: enhanced fraud prevention; conversion of paper based branch reports to screen; image and workflow capability in service centres; the introduction of a new image enabled mortgage platform which has improved the efficiency and quality of our service and the introduction of an on-line customer query management system.

2003 compared with 2002

Manufacturing’s costs increased by 8% or £162 million, to £2,114 million.

Group Technology costs increased by £21 million to £686 million. This reflected business as usual cost growth and a specific improvement programme, the majority of the cost of which will be borne by Group Technology. This is providing benefits across the Group and further investment opportunities were identified which will lead to further efficiency benefits across the Group.

The cost base of Group Purchasing and Property Operations rose by 11% or £69 million to £718 million, largely as a result of the continuing upgrade of the property portfolio in major UK centres to support the Group’s core business.

Customer Support and other operations costs were £710 million, 11% or £72 million higher than the previous year. This reflected further expansion of business operations with increased expenditure in customer support areas of Lending, Telephony, Payments and Security. In telephony, the Royal Bank of Scotland customer service proposition was introduced to NatWest customers who can now choose between speaking to their local branch, to a customer service officer or using the automated telephone service.


31

 

Operating and financial review continued

Wealth Management    
  2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m 		 
Net interest income 497   457   451  
Non-interest income 451   352   370  
Total income 948   809   821  
Expenses    
       – staff costs 299   259   279  
       – other 164   139   146  
  463   398   425  
Contribution before provisions 485   411   396  
Provisions for bad and doubtful debts – charge/(release) 17   9   (11 )
Contribution 468   402   407  
 
 
  £bn   £bn   £bn  
Loans to customers 9.2   7.9   7.3  
Investment management assets – excluding deposits 22.3   22.3   16.1  
Customer deposits 31.7   29.1   28.9  
Weighted risk assets 8.3   9.1   8.4  
* prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer of certain activities to Retail Banking and Manufacturing.


2004 compared with 2003

Contribution at £468 million was £66 million or 16% higher than 2003. Excluding the acquisition and adjusting for the disposal, contribution was up 14%, £54 million.

Total income increased by 17% or £139 million to £948 million, including a full year contribution from Bank von Ernst. Excluding the acquisition and disposal, income was 12%, £94 million higher.

Net interest income increased by 9% or £40 million to £497 million. The increase reflects growth in both lending and deposit volumes, combined with the benefit of higher average interest rates.

Non-interest income increased by 28% or £99 million to £451 million, reflecting higher fee income as a result of the improved equity markets and the acquisition of Bank von Ernst.

Investment management assets were stable at £22.3 billion. Excluding the acquisition and disposal and at constant exchange rates, investment assets increased 7%.

Expenses were up by 16% or £65 million to £463 million to support the growth in income and reflecting the acquisition of Bank von Ernst. Excluding the acquisition and disposal, expenses were up 9%, £33 million.

The charge for provisions for bad and doubtful debts was £17 million compared with £9 million in 2003, reflecting a small number of specific cases.

2003 compared with 2002

Contribution was £402 million, £5 million or 1% lower than 2002. Excluding the acquisition and disposals, income was up 1%, with contribution before provisions up 4%. The charge for provisions for bad and doubtful debts was £9 million compared with a net release of £11 million in 2002.

Total income was down by 1% or £12 million to £809 million.

Net interest income increased by 1% or £6 million to £457 million. The benefit from growth in lending volumes was partly negated by the effect of lower interest rates which also caused a tightening of deposit margins.

Non-interest income declined by 5% or £18 million to £352 million. Excluding the acquisition and disposals the decrease was 1%. This reflected the impact of lower equity markets adversely affecting fees and commissions.

Investment management assets increased by £6.2 billion or 39% to £22.3 billion principally due to the acquisition of Bank von Ernst in the year.

Expenses were down by 6% or £27 million to £398 million reflecting tight cost control in difficult market conditions and the 7% reduction in staff numbers since 31 December 2002.

Provisions for bad and doubtful debts were £9 million compared with a net release of £11 million in 2002.


32


RBS Insurance    
  2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
Earned premiums 5,357   3,627   2,442
Reinsurers’ share (413 )   (504 )   (489 )
Insurance premium income 4,944   3,123   1,953
Net fees and commissions (488 )   (161 )   6
Other income 478   283   180
Total income 4,934   3,245   2,139
Expenses    
       – staff costs 293   222   166
       – other 299   219   167
  592   441   333
Gross claims 3,724   2,644   1,693
Reinsurers’ share (244 )   (449 )   (343 )
Net claims 3,480   2,195   1,350
Contribution 862   609   456
 
 
In-force policies (000’s)    
       – Motor: UK 8,338   8,086   4,668
       – Motor: Continental Europe 1,639   1,425   1,165
       – Other (including home, rescue, pet): UK 10,919   10,518   6,697
                 
Gross insurance reserves – total (£m) 7,394   6,582   3,002
* prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities to Manufacturing and to recognise a reclassification of income from net fees and commissions to insurance premium income.


2004 compared with 2003

Contribution increased by 42% or £253 million to £862 million and included the first full year's contribution from Churchill, which was acquired in September 2003. Excluding Churchill, contribution grew by 13%, £73 million.

Total income was up 52% or £1,689 million to £4,934 million. Excluding Churchill, total income grew by 17%, £450 million.

After reinsurance, insurance premium income was up 58% or £1,821 million to £4,944 million. Excluding Churchill, net insurance premium income grew by 17%. At 31 December 2004, the number of UK in-force motor insurance policies was 8.3 million and the number of in-force motor policies in Continental Europe was 1.6 million. The International Division passed the milestone of 1 million motor policies in Spain in December. Non-motor policies, including home, rescue and pet insurance, increased to 10.9 million at 31 December 2004.

Net fees and commissions payable increased from £161 million to £488 million, due mainly to commissions payable to intermediaries in the broker division acquired as part of Churchill. Other income was up due to the acquisition of Churchill and increased investment income driven by higher business volumes.

Expenses increased by 34% or £151 million to £592 million. Excluding Churchill, expenses increased by 10%, £37 million, to support higher business volumes.

Net claims, after reinsurance, increased by 59% or £1,285 million to £3,480 million. Excluding Churchill, net claims increased by 20%, consistent with mix and volume growth.

The UK combined operating ratio, which includes manufacturing costs, was 93.7% compared with 91.2% for 2003. This deterioration is attributable in part to a change in business mix due to the full year impact of commissions payable to brokers and intermediaries in Churchill. Excluding Churchill, the UK ratio was broadly in line with the prior year (2004 – 89.9%; 2003 – 88.6%).

2003 compared with 2002

Contribution increased by 34% or £153 million to £609 million. Excluding Churchill, contribution increased by 22% or £99 million.

Total income was up 52% or £1,106 million to £3,245 million. Excluding Churchill, total income grew by 25% or £525 million.

After reinsurance, insurance premium income was up 60% or £1,170 million to £3,123 million. Excluding Churchill, insurance premium income (net of reinsurance) grew by 25% or £490 million. The number of UK in-force motor insurance policies increased by 3.4 million of which 3.1 million was from Churchill, while the number of UK in-force home insurance policies increased by 3.6 million including 3.4 million from Churchill. The number of motor policies in Continental Europe increased by 260,000 during the year.

Other income net of commissions payable was down from £186 million to £122 million. Excluding Churchill, which included £148 million commissions payable to brokers and intermediaries, other income was up 19% or £35 million due to higher investment income, embedded value profits and share of associates profits.

Expenses increased by 32% or £108 million to £441 million. Excluding Churchill, expenses increased by 10% or £33 million. Staff numbers, excluding Churchill, increased by 4% (400) to support growth in business volumes, particularly in the partnership business.

Net claims, after reinsurance, increased by 63% or £845 million to £2,195 million. Excluding Churchill, net claims increased by 29% or £393 million.

UK combined operating ratio was 91.2%. Excluding Churchill, the UK ratio was 88.6% compared with 88.2% for 2002.

33



 

Operating and financial review continued
           
Ulster Bank          
  2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
Net interest income 550   396   339
Non-interest income 193   185   181
Total income 743   581   520
Expenses          
       – staff costs 158   137   122
       – other 77   58   58
  235   195   180
Contribution before provisions 508   386   340
Provisions 40   32   22
Contribution 468   354   318
 
           
  £bn   £bn   £bn
Total assets 27.4   15.6   12.7
Loans and advances to customers – gross          
       – mortgages 8.8   2.8   1.8
       – other 12.9   8.8   7.3
Customer deposits 13.5   9.7   8.8
Weighted risk assets 18.5   11.0   9.0
           
Average exchange rate – €/£ 1.474   1.445   1.591
Spot exchange rate – €/£ 1.418   1.416   1.536
* prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities to Manufacturing.


2004 compared with 2003

Contribution increased by 32% or £114 million to £468 million.

Total income increased by 28% or £162 million to £743 million reflecting the acquisition of First Active and strong organic growth, particularly in residential mortgages. Adjusting for First Active and the disposal in October 2003 of NCB Stockbrokers ('NCB'), income increased by 12% at constant exchange rates. During 2004, the number of customers increased by 454,000, of which 374,000 relate to First Active.

Net interest income rose by 39% or £154 million to £550 million, reflecting strong growth across all customer lending products and in customer deposits. Excluding First Active and NCB and at constant exchange rates, net interest income increased by 14%. The net interest margin decreased mainly due to strong growth in low risk mortgage lending both organic and due to the acquisition of First Active, a leading mortgage provider in the Republic of Ireland. Underlying product margins remain stable.

Non-interest income increased by £8 million, 4% to £193 million. Strong growth in lending fees and sales of treasury products was partially offset by a reduction in brokerage fees following the disposal of NCB. Excluding First Active and NCB, non-interest income was up 6%, £10 million.

Expenses increased by 21% or £40 million to £235 million. Excluding First Active and NCB expenses increased by 8% to support the growth in business.

The charge for provisions for bad debts increased by £8 million to £40 million, reflecting the growth in lending business. Excluding First Active and NCB provisions for bad and doubtful debts were up £4 million. Asset quality remains strong.

2003 compared with 2002

Contribution increased by 11% or £36 million to £354 million driven by strong volume growth in both loan and deposit products. The number of customers increased in 2003 by 36,000.

Total income increased by 12% or £61 million to £581 million reflecting the strong volume growth, in particular residential mortgages.

Net interest income rose by 17% or £57 million to £396 million, reflecting strong growth in both average customer lending and deposits which increased by 26% or £2.1 billion, to £10.1 billion and by 13% or £1.0 billion, to £8.9 billion respectively.

Non-interest income increased by £4 million to £185 million. Strong growth in lending, transmission and card fee income was partially offset by lower dealing profits. Uncertainty in equity markets adversely affected brokerage fees in the stockbroking business which was sold in October 2003.

Expenses increased by 8% or £15 million to £195 million. This reflected the annual pay award and the additional costs to support increased business volumes.

The charge for provisions for bad debts was up £10 million to £32 million reflecting growth in lending.

34



 

Citizens    
  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Net interest income 1,540   1,310   1,248
Non-interest income 601   514   468
Total income 2,141   1,824   1,716
Expenses    
       – staff costs 551   505   485
       – other 473   374   370
  1,024   879   855
Contribution before provisions 1,117   945   861
Provisions 80   88   95
Contribution 1,037   857   766
 
           
  $bn   $bn   $bn
Total assets 132.1   76.8   61.1
Loans and advances to customers – gross 83.4   43.5   31.4
Customer deposits 99.2   62.8   51.1
Weighted risk assets 87.4   50.8   38.8
           
Average exchange rate – $/£ 1.832   1.635   1.503
Spot exchange rate – $/£ 1.935   1.786   1.613

2004 compared with 2003

Contribution was affected by the weak US dollar relative to sterling and at £1,037 million was up 21%, £180 million. In US dollar terms, contribution increased by 36% or $499 million to $1,900 million. Excluding the acquisitions, contribution increased by 13% or $183 million to $1,570 million.

Total income was up 31% or $939 million to $3,923 million. During 2004, Citizens increased its personal customer base by 1,993,000 accounts and its business customers by 174,000. Excluding the acquisitions, Citizens increased its personal customers by 199,000 and its business customers by 30,000.

Net interest income increased by 32% or $678 million to $2,821 million, reflecting the acquisitions and strong organic growth in both personal loans and deposits. Excluding the acquisitions, net interest income increased by 11% or $228 million, average loans were up 24% or $8.8 billion and average deposits were up 14% or $8.0 billion. The benefit from higher volumes more than offset the impact of interest rates on margins.

Non-interest income rose by 31% or $261 million to $1,102 million. Excluding the acquisitions, non-interest income increased 6% or $47 million before a reduction in mortgage fees, down from $53 million to $24 million in 2004.

Expenses increased by 31% or $439 million to $1,877 million. Excluding acquisitions, expenses were up 7% due to additional costs to support higher business volumes, investment in branch automation and the expansion of traditional and supermarket banking in Mid Atlantic and New England.

Provisions increased by only $1 million to $146 million, with credit quality metrics remaining strong.

2003 compared with 2002

Contribution which increased by 12% or £91 million to £857 million was diminished by the weakening of the US dollar in relation to sterling. In US dollar terms, contribution increased by 22% or $250 million to $1,401 million.

Total income was up 16% or $406 million to $2,984 million.

Net interest income increased by 14% or $268 million to $2,143 million. Excluding the acquisitions, net interest income was up 9% or $164 million (£100 million), reflecting strong organic growth in personal loans and deposits. Excluding the acquisitions, average loans were up 29% or $8.0 billion and average deposits were up 20% or $9.1 billion. The benefit of this growth was reduced by a narrowing interest margin due to reductions in US interest rates.

Non-interest income rose by 20% or $138 million to $841 million. Excluding the acquisitions, non-interest income was up 16% or $115 million (£70 million).

Expenses increased by 12% or $153 million to $1,438 million. Excluding the acquisitions, expenses increased by 8% or $102 million (£62 million), to support higher business volumes and expansion of Citizens’ supermarket banking programme.

Provisions were up $3 million from $142 million to $145 million. Excluding the acquisitions, provisions were $2 million (£1 million), or 1%, lower than 2002. Credit quality metrics remained strong and total non-performing loans were 0.40% of total loans and advances at 31 December 2003 compared with 0.57% at the end of 2002.

In 2003, Citizens increased its personal customer base by 376,000 accounts and its business customers by 36,000 due to growth through both traditional and supermarket branches, and the acquisition of Commonwealth Bancorp, Inc., Port Financial Corp. and Community Bancorp, Inc.

35





Operating and financial review continued

Central items    
  2004
£m 		  2003*
£m 		  2002*
£m
Funding costs 284   215   215
Departmental and corporate costs 595   496   283
Total Central items 879   711   498
 
* prior periods have been restated following the implementation of FRS 17.


2004 compared with 2003

Total Central items increased by £168 million to £879 million.

Funding costs at £284 million, were up 32% or £69 million reflecting the funding of the various acquisitions undertaken by the Group during the year.

Changes in net pension costs on the adoption of FRS 17 are reported in Central items. These comprise higher pension cost of £81 million partially offset by the expected return on pension scheme assets less interest on scheme liabilities of £33 million.

Central departmental costs and other corporate items at £595 million were £99 million or 20% higher than 2003. This is principally due to higher Group pension costs, up £48 million, the centralisation of certain functions and expenditure on Group-wide projects such as International Accounting Standards and Basel II.

2003 compared with 2002

Total Central items increased by £213 million to £711 million.

Funding costs were £215 million. Increased income from higher shareholders’ funds was offset by the funding costs associated with the acquisition of Churchill in September 2003 and the £1.5 billion AVS dividend paid in December 2003.

Central departmental costs and other corporate items at £496 million were £213 million or 75% higher than 2002. Net pension costs increased by £172 million reflecting lower returns on pension scheme assets together with increased pension costs. This was also partly due to staff costs and other costs relating to certain departments such as Customer Relations which have been centralised and additional resources devoted to Group wide projects such as preparations for the implementation of Basel II and International Accounting Standards.

36

 

Employee numbers at 31 December    
  2004   2003   2002
Corporate Banking and Financial Markets 16,400   15,900   16,900
Retail Banking* 32,200   31,100   30,500
Retail Direct 9,700   7,300   7,000
Manufacturing* 24,900   23,400   23,200
Wealth Management* 5,200   5,200   5,600
RBS Insurance* 19,500   18,800   10,300
Ulster Bank* 4,100   3,400   3,300
Citizens 22,600   14,100   13,300
Centre 2,000   1,700   1,700
Group total 136,600   120,900   111,800
Acquisitions in the year 10,500   9,700   5,600
Underlying 126,100   111,200   106,200
 
*prior periods have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities from Wealth Management to Retail Banking and from RBS Insurance and Ulster Bank to Manufacturing.
 

2004 compared with 2003

The number of employees increased by 15,700, 13% to 136,600. The acquisitions in the year added 10,500 staff, including over 8,100 relating to Charter One.

2003 compared with 2002

The number of employees increased by 9,100, 8% to 120,900. The acquisition of Churchill added 8,500 staff in RBS Insurance.


37



Operating and financial review continued

Consolidated balance sheet
at 31 December 2004

  2004
£m 		  2003*
£m
Assets  
Cash and balances at central banks 4,293   3,822
Items in the course of collection from other banks 2,629   2,501
Treasury bills and other eligible bills 6,110   4,846
Loans and advances to banks 58,260   51,891
Loans and advances to customers 345,469   252,531
Debt securities 91,211   79,949
Equity shares 2,960   2,300
Intangible fixed assets 17,576   13,131
Tangible fixed assets 16,294   13,927
Settlement balances 5,682   2,857
Other assets 22,255   17,807
Prepayments and accrued income 6,928   5,309
  579,667   450,871
Long-term assurance assets attributable to policyholders 3,800   3,557
Total assets 583,467   454,428
 
         
Liabilities  
Deposits by banks 99,081   67,323
Items in the course of transmission to other banks 802   958
Customer accounts 285,062   236,963
Debt securities in issue 58,960   41,016
Settlement balances and short positions 32,990   21,369
Other liabilities 26,152   20,584
Accruals and deferred income 15,588   13,155
Post-retirement benefit liabilities 1,901   1,445
Provisions for liabilities and charges 3,071   2,249
Subordinated liabilities 20,366   16,998
Minority interests  
– equity 158   (11 )
– non-equity 3,671   2,724
Shareholders’ funds  
– equity 27,345   23,175
– non-equity 4,520   2,923
  579,667   450,871
Long-term assurance liabilities attributable to policyholders 3,800   3,557
Total liabilities 583,467   454,428
 
Analysis of repurchase agreements included above  
         
Reverse repurchase agreements and stock borrowing  
Loans and advances to banks 29,975   26,522
Loans and advances to customers 52,184   24,069
  82,159   50,591
 
Repurchase agreements and stock lending  
Deposits by banks 43,342   27,044
Customer accounts 42,134   27,021
  85,476   54,065
 

* restated (see page 85)

38




Overview of consolidated balance sheet

Total assets of £583.5 billion at 31 December 2004 were up £129.0 billion, 28%, compared with 31 December 2003, reflecting business growth and acquisitions.

Treasury bills and other eligible bills increased by £1.3 billion, 26%, to £6.1 billion, reflecting trading activity.

Loans and advances to banks rose £6.4 billion, 12%, to £58.3 billion. Bank placings were up £2.9 billion, 11% to £28.3 billion, and reverse repurchase agreements and stock borrowing (“reverse repos”), were up £3.5 billion, 13%, to £30.0 billion.

Loans and advances to customers were up £92.9 billion, 37%, to £345.5 billion. Within this, reverse repos increased by £28.1 billion to £52.2 billion reflecting growth in trading activities. Excluding reverse repos, lending increased by £64.8 billion, 28% to £293.3 billion reflecting organic growth across all divisions and £23.4 billion arising from acquisitions, principally Charter One, £18.0 billion, First Active, £4.1 billion, and the People's Bank credit card business, £1.0 billion. In $ terms, Citizens grew US$39.5 billion, 92%, including US$32.7 billion related to acquisitions.

Debt securities increased by £11.3 billion, 14%, to £91.2 billion, principally due to increased holdings in Financial Markets and the acquisition of First Active.

Equity shares were up £0.7 billion, 29%, to £3.0 billion, mainly due to the acquisition of Charter One and growth in Financial Markets trading activity.

Intangible fixed assets increased by £4.4 billion, 34% to £17.6 billion. Goodwill arising on the acquisitions made during 2004 amounted to £5.9 billion, including £4.7 billion in respect of Charter One. This was partially offset by goodwill amortisation, £0.9 billion and the adverse effect of exchange rate movements, £0.5 billion.

Tangible fixed assets were up £2.4 billion, 17% to £16.3 billion, mainly reflecting growth in operating lease assets, up £1.4 billion, 22% to £7.8 billion.

Settlement balances increased by £2.8 billion to £5.7 billion as a result of increased levels of customer activity.

Other assets rose by £4.4 billion, 25% to £22.3 billion, mainly due to an increase in the mark-to-market value of trading derivatives and acquisitions.

Deposits by banks increased by £31.8 billion, 47% to £99.1 billion to fund business growth, with repurchase agreements and stock lending (“repos”) up £16.3 billion, 60%, to £43.3 billion and inter-bank deposits up £15.5 billion, 38% to £55.8 billion.

Customer accounts were up £48.1 billion, 20% at £285.1 billion. Within this, repos were up £15.1 billion, 56% to £42.1 billion reflecting growth in trading activities. Excluding repos, deposits rose by £33.0 billion, 16%, to £243.0 billion with growth in CBFM, £6.3 billion, Retail Banking, £4.1 billion, Wealth Management, £2.7 billion, Citizens, £15.8 billion, including the acquisition of Charter One and Ulster Bank, £3.8 billion, including First Active. In $ terms, Citizens grew US$36.4 billion, 58%, including US$29.1 billion related to acquisitions.

Debt securities in issue increased by £17.9 billion, 44%, to £59.0 billion primarily to meet the Group's funding requirements.

The increase in settlement balances and short positions reflected growth in customer activity.

Other liabilities rose by £5.6 billion, 27% to £26.2 billion, principally due to an increase in the mark-to-market value of trading derivatives.

Accruals and deferred income increased by £2.4 billion, 18% to £15.6 billion.

Post-retirement benefit liabilities, recognised on the adoption of FRS 17, were up £0.5 billion, 32% to £1.9 billion with actuarial losses, net of deferred tax, up £1.1 billion, mainly due to changes in actuarial assumptions, partially offset by asset growth and a £750 million payment to the RBS Group Pension Fund.

Provisions for liabilities and charges increased £0.8 billion, 37% to £3.1 billion principally due to higher provisions for deferred tax.

Subordinated liabilities were up £3.4 billion, 20% to £20.4 billion. This reflected the issue of £1.3 billion (US$2,425 million), £0.7 billion (€1,000 million) and £0.4 billion (AUD1,000 million) dated loan capital, and £1.1 billion (£1,100 million), £1.0 billion (€1,500 million) and £0.1 billion (JPY25 billion) undated loan capital, together with £0.1 billion of dated and undated loan capital arising from the acquisition of First Active and £0.2 billion dated loan capital arising from the acquisition of Charter One. This was partially offset by the redemption of dated loan capital, £0.7 billion (US$1,050 million and £140 million), the conversion of £0.5 billion (US$850 million) undated loan capital into US$ preference shares and the effect of exchange rate movements, £0.4 billion.

Non-equity minority interests were up £0.9 billion, 35% to £3.7 billion mainly reflecting the issues by subsidiaries of the Group of US$950 million (£0.5 billion) non-cumulative trust preferred securities in August 2004 and US$1,000 million (£0.6 billion) non-cumulative trust preferred securities in August/September 2004.

Shareholders' funds increased by £5.8 billion, 22% to £31.9 billion including £2.6 billion from the placing of 165 million ordinary shares in connection with the acquisition of Charter One, the issue of £1.3 billion preference share capital and conversion of £0.5 billion (US$850 million) undated loan capital into US$ preference shares. The remainder reflects retentions of £2.4 billion and the issue of £0.6 billion of ordinary shares in respect of scrip dividends and the exercise of share options and revaluation of premises, £0.1 billion, which were partly offset by £1.1 billion actuarial losses, net of deferred tax, recognised in post-retirement benefit schemes and the adverse effect of exchange rate movements on share premium account, £0.2 billion and profit and loss account, £0.4 billion.

39


Operating and financial review continued

Cash flow

  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
Net cash inflow from operating activities 6,307   19,708   13,737
Dividends received from associated undertakings 9   9   1
Returns on investments and servicing of finance (1,070 )   (956 )   (1,103 )
Taxation (1,394 )   (1,454 )   (1,107 )
Capital expenditure and financial investment (1,526 )   (6,965 )   (9,185 )
Acquisitions and disposals (7,674 )   (1,571 )   (281 )
Equity and AVS dividends paid (1,235 )   (2,235 )   (1,527 )
Financing 9,369   4,128   2,711
Increase in cash 2,786   10,664   3,246
 

2004

The major factors contributing to the net cash inflow of £6,307 million from operating activities in 2004 were the profit before tax of £6,917 million, increases in deposits and debt securities in issue of £70,580 million, increases in short positions and settlement balances of £8,796 million, partially offset by increases in treasury and other eligible bills of £1,264 million, increases in securities of £10,367 million and increases in loans and advances of £72,913 million.

Interest on subordinated liabilities of £613 million and dividends of £457 million to preference and minority shareholders were paid during the year.

Net sales of investment securities of £1,232 million and net purchases of fixed assets of £2,758 million, including operating lease assets and investment properties, comprised the net cash inflow from capital expenditure and financial investment.

The issue of £1,075 million trust preferred securities and £4,624 million subordinated debt, partially offset by the repayment of £718 million of subordinated debt were the main contributors to the net cash inflow from financing of £9,369 million.

2003

The major factors contributing to the net cash inflow of £19,708 million from operating activities in 2003 were the profit before tax of £6,076 million, increases in deposits and debt securities in issue of £33,935 million, increases in short positions and settlement balances of £3,202 million and decreases in treasury and other eligible bills of £6,626 million, partially offset by the net increase in loans and advances of £23,343 million and increases in securities of £9,871 million.

Interest on subordinated liabilities of £557 million and dividends of £399 million to preference and minority shareholders were paid during the year.

Net purchases of investment securities of £3,056 million and fixed assets of £3,909 million, including operating lease assets and investment properties, comprised the net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment.

Equity and Additional Value Shares (‘AVS’) dividends paid includes the final dividend on the AVS of £1,463 million.

The issue of £883 million trust preferred securities and £3,817 million subordinated debt, partially offset by the redemption of preference shares of £364 million and repayment of £336 million of subordinated debt were the main contributors to the net cash inflow from financing of £4,128 million.

2002

The major factors contributing to the net cash inflow of £13,737 million from operating activities in 2002 were the profit before tax of £4,852 million and an increase in deposits, debt securities in issue and other liabilities of £40,981 million, which were partially offset by the increase in loans and advances of £35,426 million.

Interest on subordinated liabilities of £674 million and dividends of £429 million to preference and minority shareholders were paid during the year.

Net purchases of investment securities of £6,629 million and fixed assets of £2,556 million, including operating lease assets, comprised the net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment.

Equity and AVS dividends paid includes the second dividend on the AVS of £798 million.

The issue of £1,242 million trust preferred securities and £2,157 million subordinated debt, partially offset by the redemption of preference shares of £600 million and repayment of £202 million of subordinated debt were the main contributors to the net cash inflow from financing of £2,711 million.


40



UK GAAP compared with US GAAP

The Group’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with UK GAAP, which differs in certain material respects from US GAAP as described on pages 133 to 145.

The net income available for ordinary shareholders under US GAAP was £3,948 million, £308 million lower than profit attributable to ordinary shareholders under UK GAAP of £4,256 million. The principle reasons for the decrease are:

  • A reduction of £437 million relating to derivatives and hedging. Under US GAAP, non-derivative financial instruments cannot be designated as hedges of the foreign exchange exposure of available-for-sale securities; such hedging is permitted under UK GAAP. Under US GAAP, the Group has not designated any of its non-trading derivatives as hedges and these are recorded at fair value. Furthermore, US GAAP requires certain embedded derivatives to be accounted for separately from the host instrument.

  • Higher pension costs under US GAAP compared with UK GAAP principally reflecting deferral of actuarial gains and losses over the average remaining service lives of current employees under US GAAP. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in the statement of total recognised gains and losses for the period under UK GAAP.

  • A net decrease in net income of £261 million relating to capitalisation and amortisation of software development costs that meet certain criteria under US GAAP. Such costs are generally charged to the profit and loss account under UK GAAP.

The above decreases are partially offset by an increase of £780 million in net income under US GAAP relating to intangible assets. Goodwilll amortisation is charged to the profit and loss account under UK GAAP whereas under US GAAP only intangible assets with finite lives are amortised. Goodwill is not amortised but instead is reviewed annually for impairment.

US GAAP shareholders’ equity at £36,191 million is £4,326 million higher than shareholders’ equity under UK GAAP, principally due to the reinstatement of goodwill amortised under UK GAAP and the reversal of the final dividend.

Capital resources

The following table analyses the Group’s regulatory capital resources at the period end:

  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m 		    2001
£m 		    2000
£m
Capital base        
Tier 1 capital 22,694   19,399   17,155   15,052   12,071
Tier 2 capital 20,229   16,439   13,271   11,734   10,082
Tier 3 capital ––   ––   ––   172   167
  42,923   35,838   30,426   26,958   22,320
Less: investments in insurance subsidiaries, associated        
          undertakings and other supervisory deductions (5,165 )   (4,618 )   (3,146 )   (2,698 )   (2,228 )
Total capital 37,758   31,220   27,280   24,260   20,092
 
                             
Weighted risk assets        
Banking book:        
       On-balance sheet 261,800   214,400   193,800   176,000   146,600
       Off-balance sheet 44,900   36,400   28,700   22,000   16,200
Trading book 17,100   12,900   11,500   12,500   12,400
  323,800   263,700   234,000   210,500   175,200
 
                             
Risk asset ratios %     %     %     %     %
Tier 1 7.0   7.4   7.3   7.1   6.9
Total 11.7   11.8   11.7   11.5   11.5

It is the Group’s policy to maintain a strong capital base, to expand it as appropriate and to utilise it efficiently throughout its activities to optimise the return to shareholders while maintaining a prudent relationship between the capital base and the underlying risks of the business. In carrying out this policy, the Group has regard to the supervisory requirements of the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”). The FSA uses Risk Asset Ratio (“RAR”) as a measure of capital adequacy in the UK banking sector, comparing a bank’s capital resources with its weighted risk assets (the assets and off-balance sheet exposures are ‘weighted’ to reflect the inherent credit and other risks); by international agreement, the RAR should be not less than 8% with a tier 1 component of not less than 4%. At 31 December 2004, the Group’s total RAR was 11.7% (2003 – 11.8%) and the tier 1 RAR was 7.0% (2003 – 7.4%).

41

 

Operating and financial review continued

Risk management

Framework

A number of high-level committees support the Board in the effective measurement and management of risk. Board subcommittees have the following roles and responsibilities:

  • Group Audit Committee – is a non-executive committee that supports the Board in carrying out its responsibilities for financial reporting including accounting policies, and in respect of internal control and risk assessment. The Group Audit Committee monitors the ongoing process of the identification, evaluation and management of all significant risks throughout the Group. The Committee is supported by Group Internal Audit which provides an independent assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls.

  • Advances Committee – is an executive committee that deals with all transactions that exceed the Group Credit Committee’s delegated authority, which in turn approves facility limits in excess of the authorities delegated to divisional credit committees.

In addition to the responsibilities at Board level outlined above, operational authority and oversight is delegated to the Group Executive Management Committee (“GEMC”), which is responsible for implementing a risk management framework consistent with the Board's risk appetite. The GEMC, in turn, is supported by:

  • Group Risk Committee (“GRC”), which recommends and approves limits, processes and policies in respect of the effective management of all material risks across the Group.

  • Group Asset and Liability Management Committee (“GALCO”) which is responsible for reviewing the balance sheet, funding and capital implications of the Group's strategy and operations. In addition, GALCO monitors and reviews legal, regulatory and accounting developments affecting balance sheet risks and capital. It also reviews the effect of external, economic and environmental changes on the Group's balance sheet, risks, margins and capital.

  • Group Risk Management (“GRM”) reports to the GEMC through the Group Finance Director and is responsible for risk policy, measurement and controls across the Group. An assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of each divisional risk management team is undertaken by GRM on a continuous basis to ensure effective control of risks. Each divisional risk function has a direct reporting line to the Director of Group Risk Management, which reinforces these controls and ensures independence of risk management within each division.

  • Group Treasury (“GT”) also reports to the GEMC through the Group Finance Director, and is responsible for the management of the Group’s balance sheet, capital raising, liquidity and hedging policies. GT assesses and monitors the effectiveness of the divisional asset and liability management teams.

GRM and GT also respond to various regulatory developments affecting risk, capital and liquidity management. This includes working with international and domestic trade associations, being active with various regulators, especially the FSA, and encouraging discussions with the main regulatory and political groups, such as the Basel Committee and the EU Commission.

The principal risks that the Group manages are as follows:

  • Credit risk

  • Liquidity risk

  • Market risk

  • Insurance risk

  • Enterprise risk

These risks are discussed on pages 43 to 58.

42



Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk arising from the possibility that the Group will incur losses from the failure of customers to meet their obligations.

The credit risk framework

The management of credit risk is undertaken within an agreed and regulated Credit Risk Framework which is defined in the Group’s ‘Principles for Managing Credit Risk’. These set out minimum standards for managing credit risk, defining and maintaining the credit risk framework, approving credit risk taken by the Group, credit stewardship and reviewing the effectiveness of the credit culture. These standards are used to manage the Group’s portfolio of credit risk assets.

All credit risk exposures require approval by authorised individuals or credit committees, independent of business revenue generation. Existing credit risk exposures are monitored and reviewed periodically against approved risk limits. Review occurs at least annually with the lower quality exposures being subject to greater frequency of analysis and assessment. Exposures below specified thresholds and meeting specific criteria can be approved through authorised, largely automated, processes.

Different credit approval processes exist for each customer type in order to ensure appropriate skills and resources are employed in credit assessment and approval. Corporate risk exposures are aggregated to determine the appropriate level of credit approval required and to facilitate consolidated credit risk management:

  • Retail and personal businesses employ market best practice credit scoring techniques to process small scale, large volume credit decisions. Scores from such systems are combined with management judgement to ensure an effective ongoing process of approval, review and enhancement. Credit decisions for loans above specified thresholds, including lending to SMEs, are individually assessed.

  • Assessments of corporate borrower and transaction risk are undertaken using a range of credit rating models supplemented by the judgement of relationship managers. Specialist internal credit risk departments independently oversee the credit process and make decisions or recommendations to the appropriate credit committee. Credit authority is not extended to relationship managers.


  • Financial Markets counterparties are approved by a dedicated credit function which specialises in the traded market product risk.

GRM and the GEMC review the reports on the Group’s portfolio of credit risks on a monthly basis.


43



Operating and financial review continued

Credit risk (continued)

Risk asset quality

Internal reporting and oversight of risk assets is principally differentiated by credit ratings. Internal ratings are used to assess the credit quality of borrowers. Customers are assigned credit ratings, based on statistical and judgemental rating systems that map to a Group asset quality scale reflecting the probability of default. Over the past year, RBS has made significant strides in updating its credit grading models to take account of the new Basel Capital Accord (see page 165).

As at December 2004, exposure to investment grade counterparties (AQ1) accounted for over half of risk assets. Over 97% of exposures were to counterparties rated AQ4 or higher.

Asset quality   S&P equivalent
AQ1   AAA to BBB-
AQ2   BB+ to BB
AQ3   BB- to B+
AQ4   B+ to B
AQ5   B and below


Loans and advances

The Group’s loan portfolio consists of loans (including overdraft facilities), instalment credit and finance lease receivables. The value of loans and advances to customers at 31 December 2004 was £349,691 million (2003 – £256,453 million), representing an increase of £93,238 million (36%) over the year, of which £23,468 million relates to the largest three acquisitions (Charter One, First Active & Peoples Bank Cards) and £28,115 million relates to growth in reverse repo activity. Including banks, total loans and advances at 31 December 2004 was £407,957 million (2003 – £308,351 million), an increase of 32%.

Loans and advances – gross 2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Loans and advances to customers by division – gross    
CBFM 176,690   128,124   117,365
Retail Banking 72,197   61,809   55,619
Retail Direct 25,206   22,024   19,350
Wealth Management 9,221   7,894   7,267
Ulster Bank 21,659   11,633   9,111
Citizens 43,104   24,384   19,457
Other 1,614   585   (925 )
Loans and advances to customers – gross 349,691   256,453   227,244
Loans and advances to banks – gross 58,266   51,898   44,303
Total loans and advances – gross 407,957   308,351   271,547
 

 

44

 

• Industry analysis

Industry analysis plays an important part in assessing potential concentration risk within the loan portfolio. Particular attention is given to industry sectors where the Group believes there is a higher degree of risk or potential for volatility in the future.

Loans and advances to customers by industry 2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Central and local government 3,079   2,100   2,385
Finance 70,453   38,936   34,079
Individuals – home mortgages 91,657   61,960   49,986
               – other 43,875   35,027   30,021
Other commercial and industrial comprising:    
Manufacturing 14,883   12,769   14,715
Construction 7,976   5,839   5,152
Service industries and business activities 57,305   50,772   48,155
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 3,024   3,081   3,026
Property 41,113   31,629   26,593
Finance leases and instalment credit 16,326   14,340   13,132
Total loans and advances to customers – gross 349,691   256,453   227,244
 

The increase in Finance was principally due to higher level of reverse repurchase agreements which by industry were as follows:

Reverse repurchase agreements 2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Central and local government 1,413   1,079   1,000
Finance 50,771   22,883   20,941
Service industries and business activities –   107   –
Total 52,184   24,069   21,941
 

Together, corporates, financial institutions and sovereigns, account for 61% of loans and advances. The remaining exposures, accounting for 39% of loans and advances, relate to personal and retail customers, especially mortgage lending and other small loans that are intrinsically highly diversified.


45



Operating and financial review continued

Credit risk (continued)

• Geographic analysis

Although the Group is active in 27 different countries, its principal focus is on the UK, US and Europe.

Geographically, 90% of loans and advances to customers fall within the UK or US, both of which have experienced stable or improving economic growth. Europe accounts for about 9% of loans and advances to customers.

Loans and advances to customers by geography 2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
UK 240,642   194,545   168,931
US 74,045   40,373   41,008
Europe 32,113   19,842   15,572
Rest of the World 2,891   1,693   1,733
Total loans and advances to customers – gross 349,691   256,453   227,244
 
  Notes:
(1)  The geographic analysis is based on location of office. The UK includes domestic transactions and transactions conducted through the offices in the UK which service international banking transactions.

• Cross border exposures

Cross border exposures are defined as loans to banks and customers (including finance lease and instalment credit receivables) and other monetary assets, including non-local currency claims of overseas offices on local residents.

The Group monitors the geographical breakdown of these exposures based on the country of domicile of the borrower or guarantor of ultimate risk.

The table below sets out the Group’s cross border outstandings in excess of 0.75% of Group total assets (including acceptances), which totalled £583.8 billion (2003 – £455.0 billion; 2002 – £413.6 billion). None of these countries has experienced repayment difficulties that have required refinancing of outstanding debt.

  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Geographic analysis:    
       United States 28,795   14,618   11,658
       Germany 14,050   15,073   10,464
       France 9,604   7,524   5,971
       Netherlands 8,871   6,830   6,318
       Cayman Islands 7,258   6,666   6,897
       Spain 5,249   3,421   *
       Japan 4,610   4,141   3,156

* Less than 0.75% of Group total assets (including acceptances).

46



Risk elements in lending and potential problem loans

The table below sets out the Group’s loans that are classified as non-accrual, accruing past due and restructured loans (together risk elements in lending (REIL)) or potential problem loans (PPL) as defined by the SEC in the US. The figures incorporate estimates and are stated before deducting the value of security held or related provisions.

REIL and PPL 2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Non-accrual loans (2) 4,780   4,432   4,175
Accrual loans past due 90 days (3) 725   642   492
Troubled debt restructurings 24   83   204
Total REIL 5,529   5,157   4,871
           
PPL (4) 280   591   1,183
Total REIL and PPL 5,809   5,748   6,054
 
  Notes:
(1) The classification of a loan as non-accrual, past due 90 days or troubled debt restructuring does not necessarily indicate that the principal of the loan is uncollectable in whole or in part. Collection depends in each case on the individual circumstances of the loan, including the adequacy of any collateral securing the loan and therefore classification of a loan as non-accrual, past due 90 days or troubled debt restructuring does not always require that a provision be made against such a loan. In accordance with the Group’s provisioning policy for bad and doubtful debts, it is considered that adequate provisions for the above risk elements in lending have been made.
(2) The Group’s UK banking subsidiary undertakings account for loans on a non-accrual basis from the point in time at which the collectability of interest is in significant doubt. Certain subsidiary undertakings of the Group, principally Citizens, generally account for loans on a non-accrual basis when interest or principal is past due 90 days.
(3) Overdrafts generally have no fixed repayment schedule and consequently are not included in this category.
(4) Loans which are current as to the payment of principal and interest but in respect of which management have serious doubts about the ability of the borrowers to comply with contractual repayment terms. Substantial security is held in respect of these loans and appropriate provisions are made in accordance with the Group’s provisioning policy for bad and doubtful debts.
 

REIL increased to £5,529 million, a rise of 7% compared with 2003 partly due to acquisitions made in 2004. REIL as a proportion of total loans and advances to customers was 1.58% in 2004 (2003 – 2.01%; 2002 – 2.14%), reflecting active risk management, growth in lower risk portfolios and improvements in the economic environment in the Group’s key markets.

REIL and PPL in aggregate, as a proportion of loans and advances also shows an improving trend, accounting for 1.66% of loans and advances to customers in 2004 (2003 – 2.24%; 2002 – 2.66%).


Provisions

The Group provides for losses in its loan portfolio so as to record impaired loans and advances at their expected ultimate net realisable value. The objective is to set provisions based on the current understanding of the portfolio. To reach this understanding, retail and corporate loans and advances are treated separately.

The Group’s retail portfolios which consist of small value, high volume credits have highly efficient largely automated processes for identifying problem credits and very short timescales, typically three months, before resolution or adoption of various recovery measures.

Corporate portfolios consist of higher value, lower volume credits, which tend to be structured to meet individual customers requirements. These portfolios do not have an automated provisioning process, relying on individual expert judgement and provisioning committees to provide the necessary controls and oversight to identify problems.

Early and proactive management of problem exposures ensures that credit losses are minimised. Specialised units are used for different customer types to ensure that the appropriate risk mitigation is taken in a timely manner.

47

 

Operating and financial review continued

Credit risk (continued)

Specific and general provisions

Provisions fall into one of two categories, specific or general:

  • Specific provisions: arise when the creditworthiness of a borrower has undergone a significant deterioration and the recovery of the advance is in significant doubt. The amount of specific provision reflects the financial condition of the borrower, the realisable value of security and the costs of recovery.
  • General provisions: cover losses that have not yet been specifically identified but are known from experience to be present in any portfolio of loans. The level of general provision reflects the size and diversity of the Group’s loan portfolio, past experience, the current state of the economies in which the Group operates and the scope of specific provisioning procedures.
Provision charge 2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
Charge to profit and loss account for bad and doubtful debts 1,428   1,461   1,286
Charge as a percentage of average loans and advances to customers 0.48 %   0.59 %   0.61 %

Provisions for bad and doubtful debts charged to the profit and loss account in 2004 were £1,428 million, down £33 million (2%) from £1,461 million in 2003. Expressed as a percentage of average loans and advances to customers, the bad and doubtful debt charge improved to 0.48%, from 0.59% in 2003.

Summary of provisions 2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
Specific provision1 3,648     3,356   3,323
General provision 574   566   597
Total bad and doubtful debt provisions 4,222   3,922   3,920
 
                 
Total loans and advances to customers 349,691   256,453   227,244
 
                 
Specific provision as a percentage of loans and advances to customers 1.04 %   1.31 %   1.46 %
General provision as a percentage of loans and advances to customers 0.17 %   0.22 %   0.26 %
Total provisions as a percentage of loans and advances to customers 1.21 %   1.53 %   1.72 %
 
                 
Closing provisions for bad and doubtful debts expressed as a:      
% of REIL 76 %   76 %   80 %
% of REIL and PPL 73 %   68 %   65 %

(1) Excludes specific provisions against loans and advances to banks of £6 million (2003 – £7 million; 2002 – £7 million)

Total bad and doubtful debt provisions increased to £4,222 million in 2004, compared with £3,922 million in 2003, a rise of 8%, reflecting acquisitions, new provisions and write-offs net of recoveries and currency translations. The ratio of provisions to loans and advances to customers reduced from 1.53% at the end of 2003 to 1.21%.

The coverage ratio of closing provisions as a percentage of REIL remained stable at 76% while the coverage ratio of total closing provisions as a percentage of REIL and PPL increased to 73% from 68% at the end of 2003.

48



Analysis of specific provisions

The table below shows specific provisions by industry and geographic area.

  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Industry:      
       Finance 66   65   125
       Individuals – home mortgages 46   37   67
                          – other 1,617   1,159   955
       Other commercial and industrial 1,919   2,095   2,176
  3,648   3,356   3,323
 
Geography:      
       UK 2,738   2,507   2,615
       US 646   609   556
       Europe 262   224   110
       Rest of the World 2   16   42
  3,648   3,356   3,323
 
  Notes:
(1) Excludes specific provisions against loans and advances to banks of £6 million (2003 – £7 million; 2002 – £7 million).
(2) The geographic analysis is based on location of office. The UK includes domestic transactions and transactions conducted through the offices in the UK which service international banking transactions.
 

Amounts written off and recovered

The table below shows the amounts written off by industry and geographical area.

  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Industry:      
       Finance 20   66   44
       Individuals – home mortgages 4   2   2
                          – other 676   415   391
       Other commercial and industrial 768   1,036   598
  1,468   1,519   1,035
 
Geography:      
       UK 1,109   1,333   803
       US 292   156   164
       Europe 54   15   40
       Rest of the World 13   15   28
Total amounts written off 1,468   1,519   1,035
 
  Notes:
(1) Excludes amounts written off in respect of banks of nil (2003 – nil; 2002 – £1 million).
(2) The geographic analysis is based on location of office. The UK includes domestic transactions and transactions conducted through the offices in the UK which service international banking transactions.

The following table shows amounts previously written off and subsequently recovered during the year by industry and geographical area.

  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Industry:      
       Finance 4   1   –
       Individuals – other 105   42   41
       Other commercial and industrial 38   29   22
  147   72   63
 
           
Geography:      
       UK 88   38   37
       US 46   25   21
       Europe 4   4   4
       Rest of the World 9   5   1
Total recoveries 147   72   63
 
  Notes:
(1)      The geographic analysis is based on location of office. The UK includes domestic transactions and transactions conducted through the offices in the UK which service international banking transactions.

49



 

Operating and financial review continued

Liquidity risk

Liquidity management within the Group focuses on both overall balance sheet structure and the control, within prudent limits, of risk arising from the mismatch of maturities across the balance sheet and from undrawn commitments and other contingent obligations.

The management of liquidity risk within the Group is undertaken within limits and other policy parameters set by GALCO, who review monthly and receive, on an exception basis, reports detailing compliance with those policy parameters. A weekly report is also provided to the GEMC. Compliance is monitored and co-ordinated daily under the stewardship of the Group Treasury function, both in respect of internal policy and the regulatory requirements of the FSA. Detailed liquidity position reports are compiled each day by Group Treasury and reviewed daily and weekly with Financial Markets, who manage day-to-day and intra-day market execution within the policy parameters set.

In addition to their consolidation within the Group’s daily liquidity management process, it is also the responsibility of all Group subsidiaries and branches outside the UK to ensure compliance with any separate local regulatory liquidity requirements where applicable.

The structure of the Group’s balance sheet is managed to maintain substantial diversification, to minimise concentration across its various deposit sources, and to contain the level of reliance on total and net short-term wholesale sources of funds within prudent levels.

The short-term maturity structure of the Group’s assets and liabilities is also managed on a daily basis to ensure that contractual cash flow obligations, and potential cash flows arising from undrawn commitments and other contingent obligations, can be met as they arise from day to day, either from cash inflows from maturing assets, new borrowing or the sale or repurchase of debt securities held.

Short-term liquidity risk is managed on a consolidated basis for the whole Group excluding the activities of Citizens and insurance businesses, which are subject to regulatory regimes that necessitate the separate management of liquidity.

Internal liquidity mismatch limits are set for all other subsidiaries and non-UK branches which have material local treasury activities in external markets, to ensure those activities do not compromise daily maintenance of the Group’s overall liquidity risk position within the Group’s policy parameters.

The level of large deposits taken from banks, corporate customers, non-bank financial institutions and other customers and significant cash outflows therefrom are also reviewed to monitor concentrations and identify any adverse trends.

The degree of maturity mismatch within the overall long-term structure of the Group’s assets and liabilities is also managed within internal policy limits, to ensure that term asset commitments may be funded on an economic basis over their life. In managing its overall term structure, the Group analyses and takes into account the effect of retail and corporate customer behaviour on actual asset and liability maturities where they differ materially from the underlying contractual maturities.

The Group also periodically undertakes stress tests and sensitivity analysis to analyse the potential impact on its liquidity risk. Contingency plans are maintained to anticipate and respond to any approaching or actual material deterioration in market conditions.


50



Sources of funding

Excluding capital and other liabilities, customer accounts continue to provide a majority of the Group’s funding and represent a well diversified and stable source of funds from a wide range of retail, corporate and non-bank institutional customers.

  2004
£m 		  %   2003
£m 		  %   2002
£m 		  %
Customer accounts (excluding repos):              
       Repayable on demand 170,032   36   141,560   39   127,320   39
       Time deposits 72,896   15   68,382   19   66,781   21
Total customer accounts (excluding repos) 242,928   51   209,942   58   194,101   60
Repo agreements with customers 42,134   9   27,021   7   25,060   8
Deposits by banks (excluding repos) 55,739   12   40,279   11   34,623   11
Repo agreements with banks 43,342   9   27,044   8   20,097   6
Debt securities in issue 58,960   13   41,016   11   33,938   10
Short positions 28,923   6   19,128   5   16,381   5
Total 472,026   100   364,430   100   324,200   100
 

Customer accounts, excluding repo agreements, grew by £32,986 million (16%), and represent 51% of the Group’s funding excluding capital and other liabilities. Excluding the Charter One acquisition the growth would have been £18,381 million (9%). The proportion of funding from wholesale sources has increased reflecting the higher rate of growth in customer loans and advances (excluding reverse repos), up £65,123 million (28%) – £48,405 million (21%) excluding Charter One.

Repo agreements with corporate and institutional customers are undertaken primarily by RBS Greenwich Capital in the US and by Financial Markets. Repo activity with customers represented 9% of the Group’s funding excluding capital and other liabilities at 31 December 2004.

Deposits by banks including repos increased by £31,758 million (£27,240 million excluding Charter One) to represent 21% of the Group’s funding, excluding capital and other liabilities. Deposits by banks are taken from a wide range of counterparties, with the largest single depositor continuing to represent less than 1% of the Group’s total funding.

Debt securities in issue increased by £17,944 million to represent 13% of the Group’s funding, excluding capital and other liabilities, at 31 December 2004. Total debt securities in issue at 31 December 2004 includes £9,589 million (2003 –£9,187 million) with a maturity of over one year, reflecting the activity of the Group in raising term funds through its Euro and US Medium Term Note programmes and other term issues.

The Group remains well placed to access various wholesale funding sources from a wide range of counterparties and markets, and the changing mix evident between customer repos, deposits by banks and debt securities in issue primarily reflects comparative pricing, maturity considerations and investor/ counterparty demand rather than any material perceived trend.

51

 

Operating and financial review continued

Liquidity risk (continued)

Customer lending and customer accounts

Net customer lending rose by £32,137 million as the growth in loans and advances to customers exceeded the growth in customer accounts. Structural liquidity risk continues to be maintained within the Group’s policy parameters.

  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
Loans and advances to customers (gross, excluding reverse repos) 297,507   232,384   205,303
Customer accounts (excluding repos) 242,928   209,942   194,101
Customer lending less customer accounts 54,579   22,442   11,202
 
Customer accounts as % of loans and advances to customers (excluding repos) 81.7 %   90.3 %   94.5 %
 

In prevailing economic conditions and with interest rates at relatively low historical levels in the UK, US and Europe, it is anticipated that the growth in demand for further borrowing by customers may, in the medium term, continue to exceed customer deposits received, thus increasing net customer lending further and increasing gradually over time the Group’s dependence on the wholesale market for funding. The Group has evaluated a range of balance sheet management strategies to address the consequent impact on its liquidity risk position and has developed and implemented plans to contain that within its normal prudent liquidity risk policy parameters.


52



Sterling liquidity

Over 47% of the Group’s total assets are denominated in sterling. The FSA requires the Group, on a consolidated basis, to maintain daily a minimum ratio of 100% between:

1. a stock of qualifying high quality liquid assets (primarily UK and EU government securities, treasury bills, and cash held in branches) and
 
2. the sum of:
 
  • sterling wholesale net outflows contractually due within 5 working days (offset up to a limit of 50%, by 85% of sterling certificates of deposit held which mature beyond five working days); and
 
  • 5% of retail deposits with a residual contractual maturity of five working days or less.

The Group has exceeded the minimum ratio requirement throughout 2004.

The FSA also sets an absolute minimum level for the stock of qualifying liquid assets that the Group is required to maintain each day. The Group has exceeded that minimum stock requirement at all times during 2004.

The Group’s operational processes are actively managed to ensure that both the minimum sterling liquidity ratio and the minimum stock requirement are achieved or exceeded at all times.

Liquidity in non-sterling currencies

For non-sterling currencies, no specific regulatory liquidity requirement is set for the Group by the FSA. However, the importance of managing prudently the liquidity risk in its non-sterling activities is recognised and the Group manages its non-sterling liquidity risk daily within net mismatch limits set for the 0-8 calendar day and 0-1 month periods as a percentage of the Group’s total deposit liabilities.

In measuring its non-sterling liquidity risk, due account is taken of the marketability within a short period of the wide range of debt securities held. Appropriate adjustments are applied in each case, dependent on various parameters, to determine the Group’s ability to realise cash at short notice via the sale or repo of such marketable assets if required to meet unexpected outflows.

The level of contingent risk from the potential drawing of undrawn or partially drawn commitments, back-up lines, standby lines and other similar facilities is also actively monitored and reflected in the measures of the Group’s non-sterling liquidity risk. Particular attention is given to the US$ commercial paper market and the propensity of the Group’s corporate counterparties (who are active in raising funds from that market) to switch to utilising facilities offered by the Group in the event of either counterparty specific difficulties or a significant widening of interest spreads generally in the commercial paper market.

The Group also provides liquidity back-up facilities to both its own conduits and certain other conduits which take funding from the US$ commercial paper market. Limits sanctioned for such facilities totalled less than £7,500 million at 31 December 2004. The short-term contingent liquidity risk in providing such back-up facilities is also mitigated by the spread of maturity dates of the commercial paper taken by the conduits.

The Group has operated within its non-sterling liquidity policy mismatch limits at all times during 2004 and operational processes are actively managed to ensure that will continue to be the case going forward.

Contingency plans are also maintained to enable the Group to respond effectively to unforeseen market liquidity or major payment systems problems that may emerge from time to time.

53

 

Operating and financial review continued

Market risk

The Group is exposed to market risk because of positions held in its trading portfolios and its non-trading business including the Group’s treasury operations. The Group manages the market risk in its trading and treasury portfolios through its market risk management framework, which is based on value-at-risk (“VaR”) limits, together with, but not limited to, stress testing, scenario analysis, and position and sensitivity limits. Stress testing measures the impact of abnormal changes in market rates and prices on the fair value of the Group’s trading portfolios. GEMC approves the high-level VaR and stress limits for the Group. The Group market risk function, independent from the Group’s trading businesses, is responsible for setting and monitoring the adequacy and effectiveness of the Group’s market risk management processes.

Value-at-risk

VaR is a technique that produces estimates of the potential negative change in the market value of a portfolio over a specified time horizon at given confidence levels. For internal risk management purposes, the Group’s VaR assumes a time horizon of one day and a confidence level of 95%. The Group uses historical simulation models in computing VaR. This approach, in common with many other VaR models, assumes that risk factor changes observed in the past are a good estimate of those likely to occur in the future and is, therefore, limited by the relevance of the historical data used. The Group’s method, however, does not make any assumption about the nature or type of underlying loss distribution. The Group typically uses the previous two years of market data. The Group’s VaR should be interpreted in light of the limitations of the methodology used. These limitations include:

  • Historical data may not provide the best estimate of the joint distribution of risk factor changes in the future and may fail to capture the risk of possible extreme adverse market movements which have not occurred in the historical window used in the calculations.
  • VaR using a one-day time horizon does not fully capture the market risk of positions that cannot be liquidated or hedged within one day.

  • VaR using a 95% confidence level does not reflect the extent of potential losses beyond that percentile.

The Group largely computes the VaR of trading portfolios at the close of business and positions may change substantially during the course of the trading day. Controls are in place to limit the Group’s intra-day exposure; such as the calculation of the VaR for selected portfolios. These limitations and the nature of the VaR measure mean that the Group cannot guarantee that losses will not exceed the VaR amounts indicated.

Trading

The principal focus of the Group’s trading activities is client facilitation - providing products to the Group’s client base at competitive prices. The Group also undertakes: market making – quoting firm bid (buy) and offer (sell) prices with the intention of profiting from the spread between the quotes; arbitrage –entering into offsetting positions in different but closely related markets in order to profit from market imperfections; and proprietary activity – taking positions in financial instruments as principal in order to take advantage of anticipated market conditions. The main risk factors are interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange. Financial instruments held in the Group’s trading portfolios include, but are not limited to, debt securities, loans, deposits, securities sale and repurchase agreements and derivative financial instruments (futures, forwards, swaps and options). For a discussion of the Group’s accounting policies for, and information with respect to, its exposures to derivative financial instruments, see Accounting policies and Note 39 on the accounts.

The VaR for the Group’s trading portfolios segregated by type of market risk exposure is presented in the table below.

  2004
  2003
  Average
£m 		  Period end
£m 		    Maximum
£m 		  Minimum
£m 		  Average
£m 		  Period end
£m 		    Maximum
£m 		  Minimum
£m
Trading                                  
Interest rate 11.5   11.2     16.5   6.9   9.4   7.4     14.5   5.7
Currency 1.1   1.2     2.7   0.5   1.3   0.8     2.5   0.7
Equity 0.6   0.2     2.0   0.2   0.5   0.4     1.4   0.2
Diversification     (2.3 )               (1.2 )        
     
               
         
Total trading VaR 10.8   10.3     16.0   6.4   9.4   7.4     14.2   5.6
 


54



Non-trading

The principal market risks arising from the Group's non-trading activities are interest rate risk, currency risk and equity risk. Treasury activity and mismatches between the repricing of assets and liabilities in its retail and corporate banking operations account for most of the non-trading interest rate risk. Non-trading currency risk derives from the Group's investments in overseas subsidiaries, associates and branches. The Group's venture capital portfolio, investments held by its general insurance business and its strategic equity investments are the principal sources of non-trading equity price risk. The Group's portfolios of non-trading financial instruments mainly comprise loans (including finance leases), debt securities, equity shares, deposits, certificates of deposits and other debt securities issued, loan capital and derivatives. To reflect their distinct nature, the Group's long-term assurance assets and liabilities attributable to policyholders have been excluded from these market risk disclosures.

• Interest rate risk

Non-trading interest rate risk arises from the Group’s treasury activities and retail and corporate banking businesses.

Treasury

The Group’s treasury activities include its money market business and the management of internal funds flow within the Group’s businesses. Money market portfolios include cash instruments (principally debt securities, loans and deposits) and related hedging derivatives. VaR for the Group’s treasury portfolios, which relates mainly to interest rate risk was £5.5 million at 31 December 2004 (2003 – £8.1 million). During the year the maximum VaR was £8.6 million (2003 – £11.0 million), the minimum £5.5 million (2003 – £5.6 million) and the average £7.0 million (2003 – £8.3 million).

Retail and corporate banking

Structural interest rate risk arises in these activities where assets and liabilities have different repricing dates. It is the Group’s policy to minimise the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in interest rates and where interest rate risk is retained to ensure that appropriate resources, measures and limits are applied.

Structural interest rate risk is calculated in each division on the basis of establishing the repricing behaviour of each asset and liability product. For many products, the actual interest rate repricing characteristics differ from the contractual repricing. In most cases, the repricing maturity is determined by the market interest rate that most closely fits the historical behaviour of the product interest rate. For non-interest bearing current accounts, the repricing maturity is determined by the stability of the portfolio. The repricing maturities used are approved by Group Treasury and divisional asset and liability committees at least annually. Key conventions are reviewed annually by GALCO.

A static maturity gap report is produced as at the month-end for each division, in each functional currency based on the behaviouralised repricing for each product. It is Group policy to include in the gap report, non-financial assets and liabilities, mainly tangible fixed assets and the Group’s capital and reserves, spread over medium and longer term maturities. This report also includes hedge transactions, principally derivatives.

Any residual non-trading interest rate exposures are controlled by limiting repricing mismatches in the individual balance sheets. Potential exposures to interest rate movements in the medium to long term are measured and controlled using a version of the same VaR methodology that is used for the Group’s trading portfolios but without discount factors. Net interest income exposures are measured and controlled in terms of sensitivity over time to movements in interest rates.


55

 

Operating and financial review continued

Market risk (continued)

Non-trading (continued)

Non-trading interest rate VaR

Non-trading interest rate VaR for the Group’s treasury and retail and corporate banking activities was £72.4 million at 31 December 2004 (2003 – £78.1 million) with the major exposure being to changes in longer term US dollar interest rates. During the year, the maximum VaR was £89.7 million (2003 –£78.1 million), the minimum £51.5 million (2003 – £29.9 million) and the average £71.2 million (2003 – £51.7 million).

Citizens was the main contributor to the Group’s non-trading interest rate VaR. It invests its surplus retail deposits in a portfolio of highly rated and liquid investments principally mortgage-backed securities. This balance sheet management approach is common for US retail banks where mortgages are originated and then sold to Federal agencies for funding through the capital markets. The significant increase in VaR during 2003 and 2004 reflects substantial growth in retail deposits in Citizens and asset growth in home equity loans and mortgage backed securities both organically and through acquisition. VaR, like all interest rate risk measures, has its limitations when applied to retail banking books and the management of Citizens’ interest rate exposures involves a number of other interest rate risk measures and related limits. Two measures that are reported both to Citizens ALCO and Board are:

  • the sensitivity of their net interest income to a series of parallel movements in interest rates; and

  • economic value of equity (“EVE”) limits.

These limits are set to parallel movements of +/-1% and +/-2%. The EVE methodology captures deposit re-pricing strategies and the embedded option risks that exists within both the investment portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and the consumer loan portfolio. EVE is the present value of the cash flows generated by the current balance sheet. EVE sensitivity to a 2% parallel movement upwards and downwards in US interest rates is shown below.

Percent increase/(decrease) in Citizens EVE
 		 
2% parallel upward
movement in
US interest rates 		    2% parallel downward
movement in US interest
rates (no negative
rates allowed)
2004 %   %
Period end (9.2 )   (4.4 )
Maximum (12.6 )   (18.5 )
Minimum (5.2 )   (4.4 )
Average (9.3 )   (9.2 )

Percent increase/(decrease) in Citizens EVE
 
2% parallel upward
movement in
US interest rates 		    2% parallel downward
movement in US interest
rates (no negative
rates allowed)
2003 %   %
Period end (9.4 )   (8.8 )
Maximum (11.4 )   (14.2 )
Minimum 3.2   (0.6 )
Average (4.4 )   (6.4 )

At Group level, the other major structural interest rate risk arises from a low interest rate environment, particularly in sterling, sustained for a number of years. In such a scenario deposit pricing may reach effective floors below which it is not reasonable to reduce rates further whilst variable rate asset pricing continues to decline. A sustained low rate scenario would also generate progressively reduced income from the medium and long term hedging of non-interest bearing liabilities. GALCO regularly reviews the impact of successive declines in rates to ensure that appropriate risk management strategies are employed. This may involve execution of derivatives, product development and tactical pricing changes.

Note 40 on the accounts includes, on pages 121 and 122, tables that summarise the Group’s interest rate sensitivity gap for its non-trading book at 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2003. The tables show the contractual re-pricing for each category of asset, liability and for off-balance sheet items and do not reflect the behaviouralised repricing used in the Group’s asset and liability management methodology and the non-trading interest rate VaR presented above.


56



• Currency risk

The Group does not maintain material non-trading open currency positions other than the structural foreign currency translation exposures arising from its investments in overseas subsidiaries and associated undertakings and their related currency funding. The Group’s policy in relation to structural positions is to match fund the structural foreign currency exposure arising from net asset value, including goodwill, in overseas subsidiaries, equity accounted investments and branches, except where doing so would materially increase the sensitivity of either the Group’s or the subsidiary’s regulatory capital ratios to currency movements. The policy requires structural foreign exchange positions to be reviewed regularly by GALCO. Gains or losses on foreign currency investments net of any gains or losses on related foreign currency funding or hedges are recognised in the statement of total recognised gains and losses.

The tables below set out the Group’s structural foreign currency exposures.

2004 Net investments
in overseas
operations
£m 		   Foreign
currency
borrowings
hedging net
investments
£m 		     Structural
foreign
currency
exposures
£m
US dollar 12,367   6,580   5,787
Euro 2,086   1,349   737
Swiss franc 398   392   6
Other non-sterling 116   112   4
14,967   8,433   6,534
2003    
US dollar 5,329   5,198   131
Euro 1,422   826   596
Swiss franc 357   357   –
Other non-sterling 118   114   4
7,226   6,495   731

The US dollar open structural foreign currency exposure reflects the action taken to mitigate the effect of the acquisition of Charter One on the Group’s capital ratios. The structural foreign currency exposure in euros is principally due to Ulster Bank running an open structural foreign exchange position to minimise the sensitivity of its capital ratios to possible movements in the Euro exchange rate against Sterling.

• Equity risk

Non-trading equity risk arises principally from the Group’s strategic investments, its venture capital activities and its general insurance business.

VaR is not an appropriate risk measure for the Group’s venture capital investments, which comprise a mix of quoted and unquoted investments, or its portfolio of strategic investments. At 31 December 2004, equity shares held as investment securities had a book value of £2,440 million (2003 – £1,821 million) and a valuation of £2,882 million (2003 – £2,238 million).

57

 

Operating and financial review continued

Insurance risk

The Group is exposed to insurance risk, either directly through its businesses or through using insurance as a tool to reduce other risk exposures:

  • Insurance is a source of risk where the Group sells and underwrites general insurance and life assurance. The essence of an insurance contract is the transfer of risk from the policyholder to the insurer for the payment of a sum on the occurrence of an insured event.

    The management of insurance risk is overseen by a Pricing Committee that meets weekly to review underwriting factors, e.g. car groups, terms and conditions, claims experience. This is supplemented by a range of system controls and processes including risk acceptance, with regular independent reviews of underwriting across the business. Primary focus is on high volume and relatively straightforward products for example home and motor. This facilitates the generation of comprehensive underwriting and claims data, which is used to monitor and accurately price the risks accepted. This attention to data analysis is reinforced by tight controls on costs and claims handling procedures.

    Underwriting concentrations and catastrophe exposure are reviewed and, where necessary, mitigated by reinsurance which is spread across a number of reinsurers. Reviews of the Group’s general insurance reserves by external actuaries are conducted annually.

    Investment strategy reflects the maturity of underwriting liabilities and is governed through Investment Management Committees, with involvement and oversight from Group Treasury. The Group’s underwriting experience, the level of retained risk and solvency are monitored at divisional and Group level.

  • The Insurance Sourcing Department is responsible for the Group-wide purchase of insurance as a means of reducing other risk exposures. As such, it is a key component of the Group’s risk management process and reports its activities to the GEMC.

Enterprise risk

In order to adequately identify and manage the full range of Enterprise risk, the Group has separately defined operational and external risk:

Operational risk is defined as the risk arising from within the organisation from:

  • People – risks arising from an inappropriate level of staff, inadequately skilled or managed people.

  • Process – risk caused by inadequate or failed internal processes.

  • Systems – risks of inadequately designed or maintained systems.

  • Assets – risk of damage, misappropriation or theft of the Group’s physical, logical and intangible assets.

External risk is defined as the risk arising from outside of the organisation in three main areas:

  • Business – risks arising from product performance, competitor activity, supplier unreliability or customer activity.

  • Political – risks caused by political unrest or uncertainty, activity by public interest groups or extremists, and non- compliance with, or changes to, current legislation.

  • Environment – risks arising due to demographic, macro economic, technical, cultural or environmental change.

Enterprise risk also includes the potential or actual impact on corporate reputation arising from any of the Group’s activities.

Enterprise risk management is achieved through monitoring the Group’s exposure to direct or indirect loss using a range of policies, procedures, data, analytical tools and reporting techniques. In particular, Group-wide risk management processes ensure that Enterprise risk issues are quickly escalated and resolved, that the risks inherent in new products are fully evaluated, and that emerging external risks are actively monitored.

Operational risk exposures and loss events for each division are captured through monthly Risk and Control returns, which provide details on the change of risk exposures for each risk category in the light of improving/deteriorating trends and the risk profile of each division.


58


 

Governance

 

Contents
     
60   Board of directors and secretary
   
62   Report of the directors
     
66   Corporate governance
     
70   Directors’ remuneration report
     
80   Directors’ interests in shares
     
81   Statement of directors’ responsibilities
   

59




 

Board of directors and secretary

 



60





Chairman
Sir George Mathewson (age 64)
CBE, DUniv, LLD, FRSE, FCIBS
C (Chairman), N (Chairman)

Appointed to the Board in September 1987 and as Chairman in April 2001, Sir George Mathewson has a wide background in finance, technology and management and spent some of his career in the United States. He became Group Chief Executive in January 1992 and in March 2000, he was appointed Executive Deputy Chairman. He is a director of The Scottish Investment Trust PLC and the Institute of International Finance, Inc. He is also vice-president of the International Monetary Conference, a member of the Advisory Committee of Bridgepoint Capital Limited and a member of the Financial Reporting Council. He was chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency from 1981 to 1987 and is a former president of the British Bankers’ Association.

Vice-chairmen
Lord Vallance of Tummel (age 61)
FCIBS
C

Appointed to the Board in January 1993 and as Vice-Chairman in March 1994, Lord Vallance is an experienced businessman who is currently chairman of the European Services Forum and a director of the supervisory board of Siemens AG. He is also a member of the European Advisory Council of the Rothschild Group and the European Advisory Committee of the NYSE. He held a range of other positions including president of the CBI, chairman of British Telecommunications Plc and deputy chairman of the Financial Reporting Council. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Mobil Corporation.

Sir Angus Grossart (age 67)
CBE, DBA, LLD, FRSE, DL, FCIBS, D.Litt
C

Appointed to the Board in September 1985 and as Vice-Chairman in April 1996, Sir Angus Grossart is an advocate and Chartered Accountant with a career in merchant banking. He is chairman and chief executive of Noble Grossart Limited. His directorships of public companies include Scottish and Newcastle Plc and Trinity Mirror Plc. He is a trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and a former chairman of the trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland. He has also served on the boards of a wide range of other companies in the UK, the USA and Canada.

Executive directors
Sir Fred Goodwin (age 46)
DUniv, FCIBS, FCIB, LLD
Group Chief Executive
C

Appointed to the Board in August 1998, Sir Fred Goodwin is a Chartered Accountant. He was formerly chief executive and director, Clydesdale Bank PLC and Yorkshire Bank PLC. He is chairman of The Prince’s Trust and a former president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland.

Lawrence Fish (age 60)
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Appointed to the Board in January 1993, Lawrence Fish is an American national. He is a career banker and was a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He is a trustee of The Brookings Institution and a director of the Financial Services Roundtable, Textron Inc., and numerous community organisations in the USA.

Gordon Pell (age 54)
FCIBS, FCIB
Chairman, Retail Banking and Wealth Management

Appointed to the Board in March 2000, Gordon Pell was formerly group director of Lloyds TSB UK Retail Banking before joining National Westminster Bank Plc as a director in February 2000 and then becoming chief executive, Retail Banking. He is currently also a director of Race for Opportunity and Southampton University Development Trust.

Fred Watt (age 44)
 FCIBS
C
Group Finance Director

Appointed to the Board in September 2000, Fred Watt is a Chartered Accountant. He was formerly finance director of Wassall plc.

Non-executive directors
Colin Buchan* (age 50)
A (Acting Chairman), R

Appointed to the Board in June 2002, Colin Buchan was educated in South Africa and spent the early part of his career in South Africa and the Far East. He has considerable international investment banking experience, as well as experience in very large risk management in the equities business. He was formerly a member of the group management board of UBS AG and head of equities of UBS Warburg. He is vice-chairman of Standard Life Investments Limited and a director of Merrill Lynch World Mining Trust Plc, Merrill Lynch Gold Limited, Royal Scottish National Orchestra Society Limited, UBS Securities Canada Inc. and World Mining Investment Company Limited.

Jim Currie* (age 63)
D.Litt
R

Appointed to the Board in November 2001, Jim Currie is a highly experienced senior international civil servant who spent many years working in Brussels and Washington. He was formerly director general at the European Commission with responsibility for the EU’s environmental policy and director general for Customs and Excise and Indirect Taxation. He is also a director of British Nuclear Fuels PLC and Total Holdings UK Limited, an international adviser to Eversheds and a consultant to Butera & Andrews UK Limited.

Archie Hunter* (age 61)
A (Chairman Designate)

Appointed to the Board in September 2004, Archie Hunter is a Chartered Accountant. He was Scottish senior partner of KPMG between 1992 and 1999 and President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in 1997/8. He has extensive professional experience in the UK and North and South America. He is currently chairman of Macfarlane Group plc, a director of Edinburgh US Tracker Trust plc, Convenor of Court at the University of Strathclyde and a governor of the Beatson Cancer Research Institute.

Charles ‘Bud’ Koch (age 58)

Appointed to the Board in September 2004, Bud Koch is an American national. He has extensive professional experience in the USA and is currently chairman of the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, chairman of the board of John Carroll University and a trustee of Case Western Reserve University. He was the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Charter One Financial, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Charter One Bank, N.A between 1973 and 2004.

Joe MacHale* (age 53)
A

Appointed to the Board in September 2004, Joe MacHale is currently a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of Morgan Crucible plc and a trustee of MacMillan Cancer Relief. He held a number of senior executive positions with J P Morgan between 1979 and 2001 and was latterly chief executive of J P Morgan Europe, Middle East and Africa Region.

Eileen Mackay* (age 61)
CB, FCIBS
A, R

Appointed to the Board in May 1996, Eileen Mackay is a former senior UK civil servant who held posts in Scotland, HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office and was principal finance officer at The Scottish Office. She is a director of Edinburgh Investment Trust plc, Scottish Financial Enterprise and The British Library. She is also chairman of the trustees of the David Hume Institute and a trustee of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland.

Iain Robertson (age 59)
CBE, FCIBS
Chairman, Corporate Banking and Financial Markets

Appointed to the Board in January 1993, Iain Robertson is a Chartered Accountant. He is chairman of British Empire Securities and General Trust plc, Cairn Capital Limited and BT Scotland, and a director of John Menzies plc.

Sir Steve Robson* (age 61)
A

Appointed to the Board in July 2001, Sir Steve Robson is a former senior UK civil servant, who had responsibility for a wide variety of Treasury matters. His early career included the post of Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and secondment to ICFC, (now 3i). He was also a Second Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury, where he was managing director of the Finance and Regulation Directorate. He is a non-executive director of Cazenove Group Plc, Xstrata Plc and Partnerships UK plc, and a member of the Chairman’s Advisory Committee of KPMG.

Bob Scott* (age 63)
CBE, FCIBS
C, N, R (Chairman)

Appointed to the Board in January 2001, Bob Scott is an Australian national. He is the senior independent director. Bob Scott has many years experience in the international insurance business and played a leading role in the consolidation of the UK insurance industry. He is a former group chief executive of CGNU plc and chairman of the board of the Association of British Insurers. He is chairman of Yell Group plc, a non-executive director of Swiss Reinsurance Company (Zurich), Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc and Focus Wickes Group Limited, and a trustee of the Crimestoppers Trust.

Peter Sutherland* (age 58)
KCMG
N

Appointed to the Board in January 2001, Peter Sutherland is an Irish national. He is a former attorney general of Ireland and from 1985 to 1989 was the European commissioner responsible for competition policy. He is chairman of BP Plc and Goldman Sachs International and a director of Investor AB. He was formerly chairman of Allied Irish Bank and a director general of GATT and the World Trade Organisation.

Group Secretary and General Counsel
Miller McLean (age 55)
FCIBS
C

Miller McLean was appointed Group Secretary in August 1994. He is a trustee of the Industry and Parliament Trust, a non-executive chairman of The Whitehall and Industry Group and a director of The Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange.

A member of the Audit Committee
C member of the Chairman’s Advisory Group
N member of the Nominations Committee
R member of the Remuneration Committee
* independent non-executive director

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Report of the directors

The directors have pleasure in presenting their report together with the audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2004.

Profit and dividends

The profit attributable to the ordinary shareholders of the company for the year ended 31 December 2004 amounted to £4,256 million (after preference dividends of £256 million) compared with £2,254 million for the year ended 31 December 2003, as set out in the consolidated profit and loss account on page 89.

An interim dividend of 16.8p per ordinary share was paid on 8 October 2004 totalling £529 million (2003 – £431 million). The directors now recommend that a final dividend of 41.2p per ordinary share totalling £1,308 million (2003 – £1,059 million) be paid on 3 June 2005 to members on the register at the close of business on 11 March 2005. If this recommendation is approved by shareholders at the annual general meeting on 20 April 2005, the retained profit for the year will amount to £2,419 million (2003 – £764 million). Subject to the approval of the dividend by shareholders at the annual general meeting, shareholders will be offered the choice of taking ordinary shares in lieu of cash in respect of the final dividend.

Activities and business review

The company is a holding company owning the entire issued ordinary share capital of the Royal Bank, the principal direct operating subsidiary undertaking of the company. The “Group” comprises the company and all its subsidiary and associated undertakings, including the Royal Bank and NatWest. The Group is engaged principally in providing a comprehensive range of banking, insurance and other financial services. Details of the principal subsidiary undertakings of the company are shown in Note 17. A review of the business for the year to 31 December 2004, of recent events and of likely future developments is contained in the Operating and financial review.

Business developments

In January 2004, Citizens completed the acquisition of Thistle Group Holdings, Co., the holding company of Pennsylvania-based Roxborough Manayunk Bank.

In January 2004, Ulster Bank completed the acquisition of First Active plc.

In March 2004, Citizens completed the purchase of the credit card portfolio of People’s Bank in the US.

In May 2004, NatWest completed the acquisition of Bibit, a leading international internet payment specialist.

In August 2004, Citizens completed the acquisition of Charter One Financial, Inc.

In September 2004, Citizens completed the acquisition of Lynk Systems Inc, a US based merchant acquiring business.

Going concern

The directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue in business for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the ‘going concern’ basis for preparing the accounts.

Ordinary share capital

During the year ended 31 December 2004, the ordinary share capital was increased by the following issues:

(a) 165 million ordinary shares placed at an issue price of £16.20 per share;
   
(b) 12.9 million ordinary shares allotted as a result of the exercise of options under the company’s executive, sharesave and option 2000 schemes and a further 5.6 million ordinary shares allotted in respect of the exercise of options under the NatWest executive and sharesave schemes which had been exchanged for options over the company’s shares following the acquisition of NatWest in 2000;
   
(c) 23.4 million ordinary shares allotted in lieu of cash dividends; and
   
(d) 2.4 million ordinary shares allotted under the company’s employee share ownership plan.

Details of the authorised and issued ordinary share capital at 31 December 2004 are shown in Note 33.

Preference share capital

Details of issues of preference shares during the year and the authorised and issued share capital at 31 December 2004 are shown in Note 33.

Trust preferred securities

Details of issues of trust preferred securities by subsidiaries of the Group are shown in Note 32.

Subordinated liabilities

Details of issues and redemptions of dated and undated loan capital and the subordinated liabilities at 31 December 2004 are shown in Notes 30 and 31.

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Shareholdings

As at 23 February 2005, the company had been notified of the following interests in its shares, in accordance with section 198 of the Companies Act 1985:

  Number of shares   % held     Number of shares   % held
Ordinary shares:       5 ½% cumulative preference shares:    
       Cater Allen International   107,628,711   3.42          Commercial Union Assurance plc   91,429   22.86
       Legal & General Group plc   98,761,695   3.40          Mr P. S. and Mrs J. Allen   86,999   21.75
       Barclays PLC   93,254,320   3.14          Bassett-Patrick Securities Limited*   46,255   11.56
       The Capital Group of Companies, Inc   95,578,555   3.01          E M Behrens Charitable Trust   20,000   5.00
11% cumulative preference shares:              Mrs Gina Wild   19,800   4.95
       Guardian Royal Exchange              Trustees of The Stephen Cockburn    
                 Assurance plc   129,830   25.97            Limited Pension Scheme   19,879   4.97
       Windsor Life Assurance              Miss Elizabeth Hill   16,124   4.03
                 Company Limited   51,510   10.30          Mr W. T. Hardison Jr.   13,532   3.38
       Mr S. J. and Mrs J. A. Cockburn   30,810   6.16          Ms C. L. Allen   13,200   3.30
       Cleaning Tokens Limited   25,500   5.10          Ms J. C. Allen   12,750   3.18
   
* Notification has been received on behalf of Mr A. W. R. Medlock and Mrs H. M. Medlock that they each have an interest in the holding of 5 ½% cumulative preference shares registered in the name of Bassett-Patrick Securities Limited noted above and that there are further holdings of 5,300 and 5,000 shares, respectively, of that class registered in each of their names.

Directors

The names and brief biographical details of the directors are shown on page 61. All directors, except:

  • Archie Hunter and Joe MacHale, who were appointed to the Board on 1 September 2004,

  • Bud Koch, who was appointed to the Board on 29 September 2004,

  • Norman McLuskie, who retired from the Board on 23 August 2004, and

  • Emilio Botin and Juan Inciarte, who resigned from the Board on 12 November 2004,

served throughout the year and to the date of signing of the financial statements.

Sir Angus Grossart, Lord Vallance and Iain Robertson will retire at the forthcoming annual general meeting. Jim Currie, Sir Fred Goodwin, Archie Hunter, Bud Koch, Joe MacHale and Sir Steve Robson will retire and offer themselves for election or re-election. Details of the service agreement for Sir Fred Goodwin are set out on page 74. No other director seeking election or re-election has a service agreement.

Directors’ interests

The interests of the directors in the shares of the company at 31 December 2004 are shown on page 80. None of the directors held an interest in the loan capital of the company or in the shares and loan capital of any of the subsidiary undertakings of the company, during the period from 1 January 2004 to 23 February 2005.

Employee proposition

The Group recognises that the performance of its people is central to the successful delivery of its overall business strategy. Accordingly, the Group focuses on maintaining a compelling employee proposition that attracts, engages and then retains the best available talent. It is the breadth and depth of that employee talent which has cemented the Group’s standing as one of the world's leading financial institutions.

Employee recruitment

To assist those within the Group responsible for recruitment, online toolkits have been developed in conjunction with interview skills training, which equip them effectively to recruit the best people for specific roles. In addition, the Group encourages movement within the organisation through the provision of an online appointments section which enables employees to apply for new or different roles throughout the Group.

The profile of the Group led to over 10,000 applications being received during its 2003/4 graduate campaign for some 200 places. The 2004 UK-based CBFM graduate intake, included 37 per cent Continental European entrants with an additional 21 Continental European graduates and interns placed within CBFM businesses in Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid and Paris. All applications were received online through the graduate website.

To complement this work a Group wide employee induction event was conducted, which provided opportunities to network with other new joiners and facilitated the exchange of ideas and information. Within the last year the Group rose 23 places to rank 15th in the Times Top 100 Graduate employers table.

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Report of the directors continued

Employee reward

Under Total Reward the Group offers one of the most comprehensive remuneration and benefits packages in the financial services sector, consisting of salary, bonus, share schemes and competitive pension benefits. Salary awards recognise both market competitor movements and individual performance, with the largest increases being directed towards high performers.

Through RBSelect, the Group's benefits choice programme, all UK employees have the flexibility to customise their remuneration and tailor it to their particular lifestyle needs. This includes the opportunity to access subsidised childcare vouchers, discounted personal insurance products and discounted shopping vouchers at a range of high street stores.

In addition, employees can participate in bonus incentive plans specific to their business and share in the Group's success through profit sharing, Buy As You Earn and Sharesave schemes, which align their interests with those of shareholders. UK employees participate in profit sharing that is directly related to the annual performance of the Group. For the last six years this has amounted to a further 10 percent of basic salary.

The Group provides pension plan membership for most employees in the UK and overseas. The largest plan is The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund, which has over 80,000 employee members in the UK. Through this and a number of additional pension arrangements in the UK and overseas, the Group ensures that employees benefit from competitive pension provision as part of their Total Reward. The actuarial valuation of the main UK pension scheme as at 31 March 2004 resulted in a deficit of £1,994 million. To address this the Group made a special cash contribution of £750 million to the scheme in December 2004. It also increased its contribution rate to 21.5 percent of pensionable salaries with effect from April 2004.

Employee learning and development

The Group actively encourages professional development and lifelong learning and is committed to creating and providing experiences outside the workplace that benefit the employee, the community they work in and the Group. The Prince's Trust initiative, for example, enables employees to participate in volunteer and mentoring programmes and contributes to the Group's Community Investment and Corporate Responsibility aims.

The Group acknowledges the importance of developing and maintaining strong leadership capability across the organisation, proactively developing future leaders and creating succession plans for senior and executive management roles. A core component of this ongoing activity is the Executive Leadership Programme developed in conjunction with the Harvard Business School and the establishment of an on-site business school at the Group Headquarters at Gogarburn, Edinburgh which is due to open in Spring 2005. The introduction of emerging leader workshops, which included employee representatives from Citizens Bank, is further evidence of the Group’s commitment to global executive development.

In addition, through Learning Awards, the Group provides financial incentives to employees who take the banking qualifications offered by the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and The Institute of Financial Services.

Employee communication

Employee engagement is encouraged through a transparent process of communication and consultation. This is achieved through a corporate Intranet, divisional magazines, team meetings led by line managers, briefings held by senior managers and regular dialogue with employees and employee representatives.

The Group Chief Executive and other senior Group executives regularly communicate directly with employees through ‘Question Time’ style programmes, some of which are broadcast on the Group’s internal television network. This is used to convey information ranging from annual and interim financial results to employee training and development issues.

Employee consultation

The Group recognises that the key to becoming (and remaining) an employer of choice is to ensure that employees are able to maximise their contribution to the Group. Each year an independent specialist company conducts a global Employee Opinion Survey on behalf of the Group to measure how employees feel about a number of important issues.

With an overall response rate of 84 percent (some 20 percent higher than the industry average) the Group remains confident that employees value the survey as a method of expressing their views and as a way of initiating change throughout the organisation. Since the last Group-wide survey in January 2003, there were significant improvements in 14 out of 15 question categories. The RBS Group performs very well against ISR’s Global Financial Services comparison companies, which includes many of the Group’s key competitors in the UK and abroad. The Group outperforms this comparison group in all but one category.

Diversity

The Group continues to participate in a range of programmes and activities designed to promote diversity and effective people management. Reflecting its commitment to a business model based on meritocracy and inclusiveness, the Group encourages employees to develop their full potential, irrespective of their race, gender, marital status, age, disability, religious belief, political opinion or sexual orientation.


64




The Group is also committed to ensuring that all prospective applicants for employment are treated fairly and equitably throughout the recruitment process. Our comprehensive resourcing standards cover the attraction and retention of individuals with disabilities. Reasonable adjustments are provided to support the applicant in the recruitment process where these are required. The Group provides reasonable workplace adjustments for new entrants into the Group and also for existing employees who become disabled during their employment.

Health, safety, well being and security

The health, safety, well being and security of employees and customers are of vital concern to the Group, which constantly reviews its position on policies in these areas to reflect current legislation and best practice. Furthermore, the Group focuses on ensuring that those policies are closely linked to the operational needs of the business.

Corporate responsibility

Business excellence requires that the Group meets changing customer, shareholder, investor, employee and supplier expectations. The Group believes that meeting high standards of environmental, social and ethical responsibility is key to the way it does business.

The Board regularly considers corporate responsibility issues and receives a formal report on these matters twice each year. Further details of the Group’s corporate responsibility policies will be contained in the 2004 Corporate Responsibility Report.

Code of ethics

The Group has adopted a code of ethics that is applicable to all of the Group’s employees and a copy is available upon request.

Charitable contributions

In 2004 the contribution to the Group’s Community Investment programmes increased to £45.8 million (2003 – £40.1 million). The total amount given for charitable purposes by the company and its subsidiary undertakings during the year ended 31 December 2004 was £20.1 million (2003 – £14.7 million).

Corporate governance

The company is committed to high standards of Corporate governance. Details are given on pages 66 to 69.

Political donations

No political donations were made during the year.

At the annual general meeting in 2002 shareholders gave authority for the company and certain of its subsidiaries to make political donations and incur political expenditure up to a maximum aggregate sum of £675,000 as a precautionary measure in light of the wide definitions in The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, for a period of four years. These authorities have not been used and it is not proposed that the Group’s longstanding policy of not making contributions to any political party be changed.

Policy and practice on payment of creditors

The Group is committed to maintaining a sound commercial relationship with its suppliers. Consequently, it is the Group’s policy to negotiate and agree terms and conditions with its suppliers, which includes the giving of an undertaking to pay suppliers within 30 days of receipt of a correctly prepared invoice submitted in accordance with the terms of the contract or such other payment period as may be agreed.

At 31 December 2004, the Group’s trade creditors represented 27 days (2003 – 27 days) of amounts invoiced by suppliers. The company does not have any trade creditors.

Auditors

The auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP, have indicated their willingness to continue in office. A resolution to re-appoint Deloitte & Touche LLP as the company’s auditor will be proposed at the forthcoming annual general meeting.


By order of the Board.


Miller McLean
Secretary
23 February 2005


The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc is registered in Scotland No. 45551.

65






Corporate governance

The company is committed to high standards of corporate governance, business integrity and professionalism in all its activities.

Throughout the year ended 31 December 2004, the company has complied with all of the provisions set out in the revised Combined Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council in July 2003 (the ‘Code’) except in relation to the authority reserved to the Board to make the final determination of the remuneration of the executive directors, which is explained below in the paragraph headed ‘Remuneration Committee’.

The company has also complied with the Smith Guidance on Audit Committees in all material respects.

Under the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, enhanced standards of corporate governance and business and financial disclosure apply to companies, including the company, with securities registered in the US. The Group complies with all sections of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 currently applicable.

Board of directors

The Board is the principal decision making forum for the company. It has overall responsibility for leading and controlling the company and is accountable to shareholders for financial and operational performance. The Board approves Group strategy and monitors performance. The Board has adopted a formal schedule of matters detailing key aspects of the company’s affairs reserved to it for its decision. This schedule is reviewed annually.

The roles of the Chairman and Group Chief Executive are distinct and separate, with a clear division of responsibilities. The Chairman leads the Board and ensures the effective engagement and contribution of all non-executive and executive directors. The Group Chief Executive has responsibility for all Group businesses and acts in accordance with the authority delegated from the Board. Responsibility for the development of policy and strategy and operational management is delegated to the Group Chief Executive and other executive directors.

All directors participate in discussing strategy, performance and financial and risk management of the company and meetings of the Board are structured to allow open discussion.

The Board met 10 times during 2004 and was supplied with comprehensive papers in advance of each Board meeting covering the Group’s principal business activities. Members of the executive management attend and make regular presentations as appropriate at meetings of the Board.

Board balance and independence

The Board currently comprises the Chairman, four executive directors and 12 non-executive directors. The Board functions effectively and efficiently and is considered to be of an appropriate size in view of the scale of the company and the diversity of its businesses. The directors provide the Group with the knowledge, mix of skills, experience and networks of contacts required. The Board Committees contain directors with a variety of relevant skills and experience so that no undue reliance is placed on any one individual.

The non-executive directors combine broad business and commercial experience with independent and objective judgement. The balance between non-executive and executive directors enables the Board to provide clear and effective leadership and maintain the highest standards of integrity across the company’s business activities. The names and biographies of all Board members are set out on page 61.

The composition of the Board is subject to continuing review and the provisions of the Code will be taken into account in respect of the balance of the Board. The Code requires the Board to determine whether its non-executive members are independent.

Following the annual general meeting in April 2005 when Sir Angus Grossart, Lord Vallance and Iain Robertson will stand down from the Board, the Board will comprise eight independent and five non-independent directors (including executive directors), in addition to the Chairman. Bob Scott has been nominated as the senior independent director.

The Board considers that all non-executive directors are independent for the purposes of the Code, with the following exceptions:

  • Sir Angus Grossart and Lord Vallance, who have served on the Board for 19 and 12 years, respectively.

  • Iain Robertson who was formerly an executive director of the company.

  • Bud Koch who was formerly Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charter One Financial, Inc. which was acquired by Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

As a result, in terms of the Code, the Board currently comprises eight independent and eight non-independent directors (including executive directors), in addition to the Chairman.

Re-election of directors

At each annual general meeting, one third of the directors retire and offer themselves for re-election and each director must stand for re-election at least once every three years. Any non-executive directors who have served for more than nine years will also stand for annual re-election and the Board may consider their independence at that time. The proposed reelection of directors is subject to prior review by the Board.

The names of directors standing for re-election at the 2005 annual general meeting are contained on page 63 and further information will be given in the Chairman’s letter to shareholders in relation to the company’s annual general meeting.


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Information, induction and professional development

All directors receive accurate, timely and clear information on all relevant matters. Any requests for further information or clarification are dealt with or co-ordinated by the Group Secretary.

The Group Secretary is responsible for advising the Board, through the Chairman, on all governance matters. All directors have access to the advice and services of the Group Secretary who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that Board procedures are followed and that applicable rules and regulations are complied with. In addition, all directors are able, if necessary, to obtain independent professional advice at the company’s expense.

Each new director receives a formal induction, including visits to all the Group’s major businesses and meetings with senior management. The induction is tailored to the director’s specific requirements. Existing directors undertake such professional development as they consider necessary in assisting them to carry out their duties as directors.

Performance evaluation

The annual performance evaluation of the Board and its Committees was undertaken in the autumn of 2004. The evaluation, which focused particularly on the Board Committees, was conducted by the Group Secretary using a detailed questionnaire and meetings with each of the Board Committee members and attendees to discuss the performance of the Committees.

In addition, each director discussed his or her own performance with the Chairman and the senior independent director met individually with the executive directors and with the non-executive directors as a group without the Chairman present, to consider the Chairman’s performance. The report on the Board evaluation, which was designed to assist the Board in further improving its performance, was considered and discussed by the Board as a whole and specific actions are currently being implemented. A performance evaluation is conducted on an annual basis.

Board Committees

In order to provide effective oversight and leadership, the Board has established a number of Board Committees with particular responsibilities. The Committee chairmanship and membership are reviewed on a regular basis. The names and biographies of all Board Committee members are set out on page 61.

Audit Committee

All members of the Audit Committee are independent non-executive directors. The Audit Committee has five meetings each year, two of which are held immediately prior to submission of the interim and year-end financial statements to the Group Board. The Audit Committee meets executive directors and management and the external and internal auditors privately.

The Board is satisfied that the Audit Committee members have recent and relevant financial experience. Although the Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is an ‘Audit Committee Financial Expert’ as defined in the SEC rules under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the members of the Audit Committee are selected with a view to the expertise and experience of the Audit Committee as a whole, and the Audit Committee reports to the Board as a single entity. The designation of a director or directors as an ‘Audit Committee Financial Expert’ does not impose on any such director any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such director as a member of the Audit Committee and Board in the absence of such a designation. Nor does the designation of a director as an ‘Audit Committee Financial Expert’ affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Board.

The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in discharging its responsibilities and making all relevant disclosures in relation to the financial affairs of the Group, the arrangements for accounting and financial reporting and regulatory compliance, the standards of internal control, and arrangements for internal audit, risk management and the external auditors.

The Audit Committee has a policy on the engagement of the external auditors to supply audit and non-audit services, which takes into account relevant legislation regarding the provision of such services by an external audit firm. Details of the audit and non-audit services carried out by the external auditors are set out in Note 4 to the Group’s accounts. This policy is reviewed annually by the Audit Committee. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews and monitors the independence and objectivity of the external auditors when it approves non-audit work to be carried out by them, taking into consideration relevant legislation and ethical guidance. A detailed submission is also made by management to the Audit Committee prior to certain appointments. The submission contains, in particular, details as to why the proposed appointment would not breach auditor independence.

The Audit Committee also undertakes an annual evaluation to assess the independence and objectivity of the external auditors and the effectiveness of the audit process, taking into consideration relevant professional and regulatory requirements. The results of the evaluation were reported to the Board.

The Audit Committee will make recommendations to the Board in relation to the remuneration and terms of engagement of the external auditors and the re-appointment by the shareholders at the annual general meeting in April 2005 of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the external auditors.

In 2004, the Audit Committee commissioned KPMG to conduct an external review of the effectiveness of Group Internal Audit. It is intended that there will be an external review of Group Internal Audit every three years with internal reviews continuing in the intervening years.


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Corporate governance continued

Remuneration Committee

All members of the Remuneration Committee are independent non-executive directors. The Remuneration Committee has three meetings each year.

The Remuneration Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in discharging its responsibilities and making all relevant disclosures in relation to the formulation and review of the Group’s executive remuneration policy. The Remuneration Committee makes recommendations to the Board on the remuneration arrangements for its executive directors and the Chairman. The Directors’ Remuneration Report is contained on pages 70 to 79.

Responsibility for determining the remuneration of executive directors has not been delegated to the Remuneration Committee, and in that sense the provisions of the Code have not been complied with. The Board as a whole reserves the authority to make the final determination of the remuneration of directors as it considers that this two stage process allows greater consideration and evaluation and is consistent with the unitary nature of the Board. No director is involved in decisions regarding his or her own remuneration.

Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee comprises independent non-executive directors, under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Board. The Nomination Committee meets as required.

The Nominations Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the formal selection and appointment of directors. It considers potential candidates and recommends appointments of new directors to the Board. The appointments are based on merit and against objective criteria including the time available, and commitment which will be required of, the potential director.

In addition, the Nominations Committee considers succession planning for the Chairman, Group Chief Executive and non-executive directors. The Nominations Committee takes into account the knowledge, mix of skills, experience and networks of contacts which will be needed on the Board in the future. The Chairman, Group Chief Executive and non-executive directors meet to consider executive succession planning. No director is involved in decisions regarding his or her own succession.

The Board is aware of the other commitments of its directors and is satisfied that these do not conflict with their duties as non-executive directors of the company.

Meetings

The number of meetings of the Board and the Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees and individual attendance by members is shown below.

  Board   Audit   Remuneration   Nominations  
Total number of meetings in 2004   10   5   4   1  
Number of meetings attended in 2004        
Sir George Mathewson   10   –   –   1  
Lord Vallance   10   –   –   –  
Sir Angus Grossart   9   –   –   –  
Sir Fred Goodwin   10   –   –   –  
Mr Botin***   3   –   –   –  
Mr Buchan   10   5   4   –  
Dr Currie   10   –   4   –  
Mr Fish   7   –   –   –  
Mr Hunter*   4   1   –   –  
Mr Inciarte***   5   –   –   –  
Mr Koch*   4   –   –   –  
Mr MacHale*   4   1   –   –  
Miss Mackay   10   5   4   –  
Mr McLuskie**   6   –   –   –  
Mr Pell   9   –   –   –  
Mr Robertson   10   –   –   –  
Sir Steve Robson   10   4   –   –  
Mr Scott   10   –   4   1  
Mr Sutherland   10   –   –   1  
Mr Watt   10   –   –   –  
   
* Mr Hunter and Mr MacHale were appointed to the Board and the Audit Committee on 1 September 2004. Mr Koch was appointed to the Board on 29 September 2004.
** Mr McLuskie retired from the Board on 23 August 2004.
*** Mr Botin and Mr Inciarte resigned from the Board on 12 November 2004, the effective date of the acquisition of Abbey National plc by Banco Santander Central Hispano SA. They did not attend any Board meetings from June 2004 during the relevant public offer period.

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Relations with shareholders

The company communicates with shareholders through the annual report and by providing information in advance of the annual general meeting. Individual shareholders can raise matters relating to their shareholdings and the business of the Group at any time throughout the year. Shareholders are given the opportunity to ask questions at the annual general meeting or submit written questions in advance. The chairmen of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees are available to answer questions at the annual general meeting.

Communication with the company’s largest institutional shareholders is undertaken as part of the company’s investor relations programme. During the year, the directors received copies of the analysts’ reports and a monthly report from the Group’s investor relations team which includes an analysis of share price movements, the Group’s performance against the sector, and key broker comments. In addition, information on major investor relations activities and changes to external ratings are provided. In 2004, the senior independent director attended the analysts’ presentation at the interim results to enhance his understanding of the issues and concerns of the major shareholders and would be available to shareholders if concerns could not be addressed through the normal channels. The mechanisms used to ensure that directors develop an understanding of the views of major shareholders are considered as part of the annual Board performance evaluation.

The Chairman, Group Chief Executive, Group Finance Director and, if appropriate, the senior independent director communicate shareholder views to the Board as a whole.

The terms of reference of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees and the standard terms and conditions of the appointment of non-executive directors are available on the Group’s website (www.rbs.com) and copies are available on request.

Internal control

The Board of directors is responsible for the Group’s system of internal control that is designed to facilitate effective and efficient operations and to ensure the quality of internal and external reporting and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In devising internal controls, the Group has regard to the nature and extent of the risk, the likelihood of it crystallising and the cost of controls. A system of internal control is designed to manage, but not eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve business objectives and can only provide reasonable, and not absolute, assurance against the risk of material misstatement, fraud or losses.

The Board has established a process for the identification, evaluation and management of the significant risks faced by the Group, which operated throughout the year ended 31 December 2004 and to 23 February 2005, the date the directors approved the Report and Accounts. This process is regularly reviewed by the Board and meets the requirements of the guidance ‘Internal Control: Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code’ issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1999.

The effectiveness of the Group’s internal control system is reviewed regularly by the Board and the Audit Committee. Executive management committees or boards of directors in each of the Group’s businesses receive quarterly reports on significant risks facing their business and how they are being controlled. These reports are combined and submitted to the Board as quarterly risk and control assessments. Additional details of the Group’s approach to risk management are given in the ‘Risk management’ section of the ‘Operating and financial review’ on pages 42 to 58. The Audit Committee also receives regular reports from Group Risk Management and Group Internal Audit. In addition, the Group’s independent auditors present to the Audit Committee reports that include details of any significant internal control matters which they have identified. The system of internal controls of the authorised institutions and other regulated entities in the Group are also subject to regulatory oversight in the UK and overseas. Additional details of the Group’s regulatory oversight are given in the Supervision and Regulation section.

Disclosure controls and procedures

As required by US regulations, the Group Chief Executive and the Group Finance Director have evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the rules under the US Securities Exchange Act). This evaluation has been considered and approved by the Board which has authorised the Group Chief Executive and the Group Finance Director to certify that as at 31 December 2004, the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective and designed to ensure that material information relating to the company and its consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to them by others within those entities.

Changes in internal controls

There was no change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

69


 

Directors’ remuneration report
 

The Remuneration Committee

The following directors, all of whom are independent non-executive directors, were members of the Remuneration Committee during the year ended 31 December 2004.

Bob Scott (Chairman)
Colin Buchan
Jim Currie
Eileen Mackay

During the accounting period, the Remuneration Committee confirmed the appointments of Ernst & Young and Mercer Human Resource Consulting to provide advice on matters relating to directors’ remuneration in the UK and US respectively. In addition, the Remuneration Committee has taken account of the views of the Chairman and the Group Chief Executive on performance assessment of the executive directors.

In addition to advising the Remuneration Committee, Ernst & Young provided professional services in the ordinary course of business including actuarial and corporate recovery advice. Mercer Human Resource Consulting provided advice and support in connection with a range of benefits, pension actuarial and investment matters.

Remuneration policy

The executive remuneration policy is kept under review by the Remuneration Committee and is set out below. There have been no material changes to the policy which was approved by shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting in 2004.

The objective of the executive remuneration policy is to provide, in the context of the company’s business strategy, remuneration in form and amount which will attract, motivate and retain high calibre executives. In order to achieve this objective, the policy is framed around the following core principles:

  • Total rewards will be set at levels that are competitive within the relevant market, taking each executive director’s remuneration package as a whole.

  • Total potential rewards will be earned through achievement of demanding performance targets based on measures consistent with shareholder interests over the short, medium and longer-term.

  • Remuneration arrangements will strike an appropriate balance between fixed and performance related rewards. Performance related elements will comprise the major part of executive remuneration packages.

  • Incentive plans and performance metrics will be structured to be robust through the business cycle.

  • Remuneration arrangements will be designed to support the company’s business strategy, to promote appropriate teamwork and to conform to best practice standards.

The non-executive directors’ fees are reviewed annually by the Board, on the recommendation of the Chairman. The level of remuneration reflects the responsibility and time commitment of directors and the level of fees paid to non-executive directors of comparable major UK companies. Non-executive directors do not participate in any incentive or performance plan.

The Remuneration Committee approves the remuneration arrangements of senior executives below Board level who are members of the Group Executive Management Committee, on the recommendation of the Group Chief Executive, and reviews all long-term incentive arrangements which are operated by the Group.

Components of executive remuneration
UK based directors
Salary

Salaries are reviewed annually as part of total remuneration, having regard to remuneration packages received by executives of comparable companies. The Remuneration Committee uses a range of survey data from remuneration consultants and reaches individual salary decisions taking account of the remuneration environment and the performance and responsibilities of the individual director.

Benefits

UK-based executive directors are eligible to participate in The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund (‘the RBS Fund’). The RBS Fund is a non-contributory defined benefit fund which provides pensions and other benefits within Inland Revenue limits. Certain directors receive additional pension and life assurance benefits in excess of Inland Revenue limits. Details of pension arrangements of directors are shown on page 79.

Executives directors are eligible to receive a choice of various employee benefits or a cash equivalent, on a similar basis to other employees. In addition, like other employees, executive directors are eligible also to participate in Sharesave, Buy As You Earn and the Group profit sharing scheme, which currently pays up to 10 per cent of salaries, depending on the Group’s performance. These schemes are not subject to performance conditions since they are operated on an all-employee basis. Executive directors also receive death in service benefits.

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Short-term annual incentives

These typically focus from year to year on the delivery of a combination of appropriate Group and individual financial and operational targets approved by the Remuneration Committee. Individual UK-based executive directors normally have a maximum annual bonus potential of one times salary (one and a half times in the case of the Group Chief Executive), although for exceptional performance, as measured by the achievement of significant objectives, bonuses of up to two times salary may be awarded.

Long-term incentives

The company provides long-term incentives in the form of share options and share or share equivalent awards. Their objective is to encourage the creation of value over the long-term and to align the rewards of the executive directors with the returns to shareholders. Directors are encouraged to hold shares in the company and a culture of voluntary shareholding has been fostered, which has resulted in a number of executive directors building up substantial shareholdings over time.

Medium-term performance plan

The medium-term performance plan was approved by shareholders in April 2001. Each executive director is eligible for an annual award under the plan in the form of share or share equivalent awards. Whilst the rules of the plan allow grants of awards of up to one and a half times earnings, the Remuneration Committee has adopted a policy of granting awards based on a multiple of salary. Normally awards are made at one times salary with one and a half times salary being granted in the case of the Group Chief Executive. No changes will be made to this policy without prior consultation with shareholders.

The plan is highly geared to the company’s relative performance. All awards under the plan are subject to three-year performance targets. First, the annual growth in the company’s earnings per share (‘EPS’) must exceed the annualised growth of the Retail Prices Index (‘RPI’) plus three per cent. If this condition is satisfied, the company’s total shareholder return (‘TSR’) is compared with the TSR of a comparator group of certain companies in the financial services sector, referred to below. Awards under the plan will not vest if the company’s TSR is below the median of the comparator group. Achievement of the EPS target and median TSR performance against the comparator companies will result in vesting of 25 per cent of the award, increasing on a sliding scale up to 100 per cent at upper quartile performance and up to 200 per cent at upper decile performance. Vesting at 200 per cent can only occur if the company achieves a TSR ranking at 1st position in the comparator group and exceeds the TSR of the 2nd placed comparator company by at least 34%.This combination of EPS and TSR performance targets measures the underlying financial performance of the company and ensures a direct link between the value delivered to shareholders and the levels of incentive payment.

For awards made since 2002, the companies in the comparator group are Abbey National plc; Aviva plc; Barclays PLC; Citigroup; HBOS plc; HSBC Holdings plc; Legal & General Group plc; Lloyds TSB Group plc; Prudential plc and Standard Chartered PLC. Following the takeover of Abbey National plc by Banco Santander Central Hispano SA (‘BSCH’) in November 2004, Abbey National plc has been replaced by BSCH in the comparator group for awards made from 2003 onwards.

Options

The executive share option scheme was approved by shareholders in January 1999. Each executive director is eligible for the annual grant of an option, typically of one and a quarter times salary with an upper maximum in appropriate circumstances of two and a half times salary, over shares at the market value at date of grant. Under the terms of his appointment, the Chairman is also eligible to participate in the executive share option scheme. No payment is made by the executive director on the grant of an option award.

All executive share options are subject to a performance target, which is currently that the options are exercisable only if, over a three year period, the growth in the company’s EPS has exceeded the growth in the RPI plus nine per cent. This EPS performance target, which is consistent with market practice, measures underlying financial performance and represents a long-term test of performance. For awards made in 2004 onwards, there is no re-testing of the performance condition. The condition is reviewed annually. All previous awards have vested without re-testing.

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

US based director – Lawrence Fish

Lawrence Fish's total remuneration package was reviewed in 2004 by the Remuneration Committee as a result of the acquisition of Charter One and his changing RBS responsibilities in North America. In the review the Remuneration Committee confirmed its overall policy in relation to his package is to ensure competitiveness with the market levels of total remuneration for chairmen and executives of US banks of similar size and complexity.

As a result of that review, proposals will be submitted at the annual general meeting to introduce a cash long term incentive plan, which will replace the Citizens Phantom 2000 Plan in which Mr Fish participated from 2001. Subject to agreement to these proposals, the total remuneration policy for him will be as follows:

Base salary will be set having regard to the levels of base salary in other US banks and the appropriate balance of fixed and variable remuneration for US based executives of UK listed companies operating within the corporate governance frameworks of the UK. In light of this policy, and having reviewed the relevant market data, Mr Fish’s base salary was increased to $1.5 million with effect from 1 October 2004.

Benefits Mr Fish accrues pension benefits under a number of arrangements in the US. Details are provided on page 79. In addition he is entitled to receive other benefits on a similar basis to other Citizens employees.

Short term performance rewards will take the form of an annual incentive plan which rewards the achievement of Group, business unit and individual financial and non-financial targets. The normal maximum annual bonus potential will be two times salary, although additional amounts to a maximum of two times salary may be awarded, at the discretion of the Board, for exceptional performance as measured by the achievement of significant objectives.

Long term incentives will consist of the following components:

  • The two grants made under the Citizens Phantom 2000 Plan vested and will vest on 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2006, respectively. The value of units at the time of vesting is performance-linked and is based on the cumulative economic profit generated by Citizens, the trend in economic profit and on the external market trends in the US banking sector, using price/earnings ratios of comparator US banks. This measure was chosen to establish a clear link between the potential incentive and the performance of Citizens. No other grants will be made under this plan.

  • A grant under the RBS medium-term performance plan within the levels, and on the same terms, available to UK based executives.

  • A grant under the executive share option scheme within the levels, and on the same terms, available to UK based executives.

  • A grant under the new Citizens Long Term Incentive Plan. Performance will be measured on a combination of Growth in Profit before Tax and Relative Return on Equity based on a comparison of Citizens with comparator US banks. The targets for this plan will be set on an annual basis over the three year term of the grant.

In the event that the proposed new Citizens Long Term Incentive Plan is not approved, Mr Fish will participate in existing approved short and long term cash plans already operating in Citizens.

The existing approved Citizens Long Term Incentive Plan is a cash compensation plan designed to reward participants for achieving long-term financial results. A separate three-year cycle commences each year. The maximum award payable to Mr Fish annually is 105 per cent of his average salary over the previous three-year period. Each three-year performance target is based on the annual pre-tax income target for Citizens. For the maximum award to be paid in respect of each three-year target, Citizens must achieve 130 per cent of the three-year aggregate budgeted profit figure. This performance target is measured by taking the pre-tax income for Citizens, which is a simple and transparent method of measuring a profit figure target.

72



The performance graph

The undernoted performance graph illustrates the performance of the company over the past five years in terms of total shareholder return compared with that of the companies comprising the FTSE 100 index. This index has been selected because it represents a cross-section of leading UK companies. The total shareholder return for the company and the FTSE 100 have been rebased to 100 for 1999.

Total shareholder return


Service contracts

The company’s policy in relation to the duration of contracts with directors is that executive directors’ contracts generally continue until termination by either party, subject to the required notice, or until retirement date. The notice period under the service contracts of executive directors will not normally exceed 12 months. However, the notice period may exceed 12 months if existing service contracts have notice periods greater than 12 months and the Remuneration Committee considers it appropriate not to reduce the existing notice period. In relation to newly recruited executive directors, subject to the prior approval of the Remuneration Committee, the notice period from the employing company required to terminate the contract will not normally exceed 12 months unless there is a clear case for this. Where a longer period of notice is initially approved on appointment, it will normally be structured such that it will automatically reduce to 12 months in due course.

All new service contracts for executive directors will be subject to approval by the Remuneration Committee. It will be the norm to include in those contracts standard clauses covering the performance review process, the company’s normal disciplinary procedure, and terms for dismissal in the event of failure to perform or in situations involving actions in breach of the Group’s policies.

Any compensation payment made in connection with the departure of an executive director will be subject to approval by the Remuneration Committee, having regard to the terms of the service contract and the reasons for termination.

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

Information regarding executive directors’ service contracts is summarised in the table and notes below.

Name   Date of current contract/
Employing company 		  Normal retirement age   Notice period –
from company 		  Notice period –
from executive
Sir Fred Goodwin   1 August 1998   60   12 months   6 months
  The Royal Bank of Scotland plc      
                 
Mr McLuskie*   9 October 1997   60   3 months   3 months
  The Royal Bank of Scotland plc      
                 
Mr Pell   22 May 2002   60   12 months   6 months
  National Westminster Bank Plc      
                 
Mr Watt   28 September 2000   60   12 months   6 months
  The Royal Bank of Scotland plc      
                 
Mr Fish   18 February 2004   65   12 months   12 months
  Citizens Financial Group, Inc.      

* retired 23 August 2004


Except as noted below, in the event of severance of contract where any contractual notice period is not worked, the employing company may pay a sum to the executive in lieu of this period of notice. Any such payment would, at maximum, comprise base salary and a cash value in respect of fixed benefits (including pension plan contributions). In the event of situations involving breach of the employing company’s policies resulting in dismissal, reduced or no payments may be made to the executive. Depending on the circumstances of the termination of employment, the executive may be entitled, or the Remuneration Committee may exercise its discretion to allow, the executive to exercise outstanding awards under long-term incentive arrangements. Exceptions to these severance arrangements are as follows:

  • Gordon Pell was recruited to the board of NatWest from Lloyds Bank plc at a time when NatWest was subject to a contested takeover. His recruitment to take management responsibility for NatWest’s retail operations was seen by the NatWest board at the time as an essential step to strengthen the management of NatWest. The terms of his service contract, which reflected these circumstances, were entered into after consultation with the Takeover Panel as required by The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. If Mr Pell’s contract is terminated by NatWest without notice, he is entitled to a compensation payment of base salary relating to the contractual 12 months’ notice period, his annual bonus to the date of termination, a payment equal to his average annual bonus over the previous three years, payment in lieu of contractual benefits and allowances including pension and extra payments by way of funded or unfunded pension and death in service contributions relating to the notice period.

The Remuneration Committee has reviewed, with the benefit of legal advice, Mr Pell’s contract, and the circumstances under which it was entered into. As the exceptional severance provisions would apply only if NatWest were to breach the contract by terminating it without notice, the Committee considers that the contract’s terms, entered into in good faith by the NatWest board and Mr Pell, should be honoured.

  • If Lawrence Fish's contract is terminated without cause, or if he terminates the contract for good reason (as defined in the contract), he is entitled to a lump sum payment to compensate him for the loss of 12 months salary plus annual bonus. Mr Fish would also be entitled to receive for this period health, life insurance and long term disability coverage and any other benefits determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of Citizens at the time of termination. The Remuneration Committee have been advised that these termination provisions are less generous than the current market practice in the US.
74



Chairman and non-executive directors

The original date of appointment as a director of the company and the scheduled date for the next re-election is as follows:

  Date first appointed   Next re-election
Sir George Mathewson   1 September 1987   2007
Lord Vallance   14 January 1993   Retires 20 April 2005
Sir Angus Grossart   30 September 1985   Retires 20 April 2005
Mr Buchan   1 June 2002   2006
Dr Currie   28 November 2001   20 April 2005
Mr Hunter   1 September 2004   20 April 2005
Mr Koch   29 September 2004   20 April 2005
Mr MacHale   1 September 2004   20 April 2005
Miss Mackay   16 May 1996   2006
Mr Robertson   14 January 1993   Retires 20 April 2005
Sir Steve Robson   25 July 2001   20 April 2005
Mr Scott   31 January 2001   2006
Mr Sutherland   31 January 2001   2006

Other than Iain Robertson, the non-executive directors do not have service contracts or notice periods although they have letters of engagement reflecting their responsibilities and commitments. Under the company’s articles of association, all directors must retire by rotation and seek re-election by shareholders at least every three years. No compensation would be paid to the Chairman or to any non-executive director in the event of early termination.

Iain Robertson entered into a contract to reflect his role as a non-executive director, which took effect on 25 June 2003. Under this contract, his appointment will terminate at the company’s annual general meeting on 20 April 2005, unless terminated earlier by either party on one month’s written notice.

The tables and explanatory notes on pages 76 to 79 report the remuneration of each director for the year ended 31 December 2004 and have been audited by the company’s auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP.

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

Directors’ remuneration

    Salary/
fees
£000 		  Performance
bonus*
£000 		  Benefits
£000 		  2004
Total
£000 		  2003
Total
£000
Chairman          
Sir George Mathewson   542   –   39   581   538
           
Executive directors          
Sir Fred Goodwin   990   1,500   32   2,522   1,916
Mr Fish   637   1,638   30   2,305   1,859
Mr McLuskie (retired 23 August 2004)   341   –   1   342   1,048
Mr Pell   670   721   12   1,403   1,307
Mr Watt   605   660   3   1,268   1,110

* includes 10% profit sharing

Basic salary is the only component of the remuneration package which is pensionable.

Non-executive directors Board fees
£000		   Board
committee
fees
£000 		  2004
Total
£000 		  2003
Total
£000 		 
 
Vice-chairmen      
Lord Vallance of Tummel 100   –   100   100  
Sir Angus Grossart 100   –   100   100  
Mr Botin (resigned 12 November 2004) 46   –   46   44  
Mr Buchan 50   50   100   56  
Dr Currie 50   10   60   54  
Mr Hunter (appointed 1 September 2004) 17   5   22   –  
Mr Inciarte (resigned 12 November 2004) 46   –   46   44  
Mr Koch† (appointed 29 September 2004) 12   –   12   –  
Mr MacHale (appointed 1 September 2004) 17   5   22   –  
Miss Mackay 50   25   75   64  
Mr Robertson 100   –   100   217 *
Sir Steve Robson 50   15   65   54  
Mr Scott 50   23   73   67  
Mr Sutherland 50   3   53   44  
 
   
* includes £167,000 in respect of Mr Robertson’s service as an executive director. From 25 June 2003, Mr Robertson has carried out his role as Chairman, Corporate Banking and Financial Markets and as a director in a non-executive capacity. He also provides general advice on business issues to the Board and Board Committees as appropriate, including attendance as required at the Group Audit Committee and the Advances Committee. For these services Mr Robertson receives a fee of £100,000 per annum.
† In addition to his role as a non-executive director, Mr Koch has an agreement with Citizens Financial Group, Inc. to provide consulting services for a period of three years following the acquisition by Citizens of Charter One Financial, Inc. For these services Mr Koch receives $402,500 per annum.

No director received any expense allowances chargeable to UK income tax or compensation for loss of office/termination payment. The non-executive directors did not receive any bonus payments or benefits.


76



Share options

Options to subscribe for ordinary shares of 25p each in the company granted to, and exercised by, directors during the year to 31 December 2004 are included in the table below:

            Options exercised in 2004            
           
         
 

 

 

 Options held at
1 January
2004 		  Options
granted in
2004 		  Number   Market price at
date of exercise
£ 		  Option price
£ 		Options held at 31 December 2004
Number   Exercise period
Sir George Mathewson   69,257         9.33   69,257   11.05.01 – 10.05.08
  147,247         7.81   147,247   29.03.03 – 28.03.10
  150         12.40   150   09.08.03 – 08.08.06 *
  20,100         17.18   20,100   14.08.04 – 13.08.11
  1,347         13.64   1,347   01.10.08 – 31.03.09 *
  19,500         18.18   19,500   14.03.05 – 13.03.12
  36,400         12.37   36,400   13.03.06 – 12.03.13
    36,044       17.34   36,044   11.03.07 – 10.03.14
  294,001   36,044         330,045  
Sir Fred Goodwin   164,571         8.75   164,571   07.12.01 – 06.12.08
  2,963         11.18   2,963   04.03.02 – 03.03.09
  27,306         11.97   27,306   03.06.02 – 02.06.09
  153,648         7.81   153,648   29.03.03 – 28.03.10
  150     150   16.20   12.40   –  
  43,700         17.18   43,700   14.08.04 – 13.08.11
  1,713         9.85   1,713   01.10.05 – 31.03.06 *
  41,300         18.18   41,300   14.03.05 – 13.03.12
  72,800         12.37   72,800   13.03.06 – 12.03.13
    144,175       17.34   144,175   11.03.07 – 10.03.14
  508,151   144,175   150       652,176  
Mr Fish   107,877         9.33   107,877   11.05.01 – 10.05.08
  150         12.40   150   09.08.03 – 08.08.06 *
  108,027           108,027  
Mr McLuskie**   16,613         9.33   16,613   11.05.01 – 10.05.08
  8,860         11.18   8,860   04.03.02 – 03.03.09
  11,356         11.97   11,356   03.06.02 – 02.06.09
  33,291         7.81   33,291   29.03.03 – 28.03.10
  150         12.40   150   09.08.03 – 08.08.06 *
  23,300         17.18   23,300   14.08.04 – 13.08.11
  335         13.64   335   01.10.04 – 31.03.05 *
  22,100         18.18   22,100   14.03.05 – 13.03.12
  335         12.35   335   01.10.05 – 31.03.06 *
  39,700         12.37   39,700   13.03.06 – 12.03.13
  156,040           156,040  
Mr Pell   51,216         7.81   51,216   29.03.03 – 28.03.10
  29,100         17.18   29,100   14.08.04 – 13.08.11
  27,600         18.18   27,600   14.03.05 – 13.03.12
  49,800         12.37   49,800   13.03.06 – 12.03.13
    47,217       17.34   47,217   11.03.07 – 10.03.14
  157,716   47,217         204,933  
Mr Robertson   56,635         9.33   56,635   11.05.01 – 10.05.08
  82,654         11.18   82,654   04.03.02 – 03.03.09
  128,040         7.81   128,040   29.03.03 – 28.03.10
  393     393   16.77   9.85   –  
  36,400         17.18   36,400   14.08.04 – 13.08.11
  304,122     393       303,729  
Mr Watt   70,148         12.83   70,148   04.09.03 – 03.09.10
  23,300         17.18   23,300   14.08.04 – 13.08.11
  710     710   16.21   13.64   –  
  22,100         18.18   22,100   14.03.05 – 13.03.12
  42,500         12.37   42,500   13.03.06 – 12.03.13
    43,253       17.34   43,253   11.03.07 – 10.03.14
  158,758   43,253   710       201,301  
   
* Options held under the sharesave and option 2000 schemes, which are not subject to performance conditions.
** Mr McLuskie retired from the Group Board on 23 August 2004. The figures quoted above are as at cessation. Subsequently, Mr McLuskie exercised his Sharesave 2001 grant of 335 options, and has since been granted a Sharesave award in 2004 of 439 options.

 

 

77




Directors’ remuneration report continued

No options had their terms and conditions varied during the accounting period to 31 December 2004. No payment is required on the award of an option.

The executive share options which are exercisable from March 2002 onwards are subject to the satisfaction of an EPS growth target which provides that options are excercisable only if, over a three year period, the growth in the company’s EPS has exceeded the growth in the RPI plus 9%. In respect of executive share options exercisable before March 2002 the performance condition is that the growth in the company’s EPS over three years has exceeded the growth in the RPI plus 6%.

The market price of the company’s ordinary shares at 31 December 2004 was £17.52 and the range during the year to 31 December 2004 was £14.64 to £17.64.

In the ten year period to 31 December 2004, awards made using new issue shares under the company’s share plans represented 4.3% of the company’s issued ordinary share capital, leaving an available dilution headroom of 5.7%.

Medium Term Performance Plan

Scheme interests
(share equivalents) at
1 January 2004 		  Awards
granted
in 2004 		  Market
price on
award
£ 		  Awards
vested in
2004* 		  Market
price on
vesting
£ 		  Value of
interests
vested
£ 		  Awards
exercised
in 2004 		  Market
price on
exercise
£ 		  Share interest
(share
equivalents) at
31 December 2004 		  End of period
for qualifying
conditions to
be fulfilled
Sir Fred Goodwin   93,040     16.35             93,040   vested 31.12.03
  44,378     18.59   33,855   17.52   593,140       33,855   vested 31.12.04
  78,398     17.22             78,398   31.12.05
    86,506   17.34             86,506   31.12.06
  215,816                 291,799  
Mr Fish   –   35,274   17.34             35,274   31.12.06
Mr McLuskie**   49,621     16.35         49,621   16.49   –   vested 31.12.03
  23,399     18.59   17,851   17.52   312,750       17,851   vested 31.12.04
  28,456     17.22             28,456   31.12.05
  101,476                 46,307  
Mr Pell   62,026     16.35         40,000   17.12   22,026   vested 31.12.03
  29,585     18.59   22,570   17.52   395,426       22,570   vested 31.12.04
  35,715     17.22             35,715   31.12.05
    37,774   17.34             37,774   31.12.06
  127,326                 118,085  
Mr Robertson   77,533     16.35             77,533   vested 31.12.03
Mr Watt   49,621     16.35         49,621   14.71   –   vested 31.12.03
  24,744     18.59   18,877   17.52   330,725       18,877   vested 31.12.04
  30,488     17.22             30,488   31.12.05
    34,603   17.34             34,603   31.12.06
  104,853                 83,968  
   
* Awards were granted on 11 April 2002 and vested at 76.29% at the end of the performance period on 31 December 2004.
** The exercise and vesting of awards in 2004 for Mr McLuskie occurred after his retirement from the Board on 23 August 2004.
   
 

Note:
   The vesting of option-based awards under the MPP does not trigger any payment to participants. Values shown at the time of vesting in the above table illustrate the potential value of the award at that time. For any awards that have vested, participants holding option-based awards can exercise their right over the underlying share equivalents at any time up to ten years from the date of grant.

No variation was made to any of the terms of the plan during the year. The performance measures are detailed on page 71.

Phantom 2000 Plan

      Awards granted during year      
  Phantom 2000 units at
1 January 2004 		  Units awarded
during year 		  Market price
on award 		  End of the period for
qualifying conditions
to be fulfilled 		  Benefits received
during year 		  Phantom 2000 units at
31 December 2004
Mr Fish 1,000,000     01.01.04   1,000,000
  1,000,000     01.01.05   1,000,000
  2,000,000         2,000,000

No variation was made to any of the terms of the plan during the year. The performance measures are detailed on page 72.

Citizens Long Term Incentive Plan

    Interests at 1 January 2004   Awards granted during year   Benefits received
during year 		  Interests at 31 December 2004
Mr Fish   LTIP* awards for the   LTIP award for the   LTIP award for the   LTIP* awards for the
  3 year periods:   3 year period:   3 year period:   3 year periods:
  01.01.01 – 31.12.03   01.01.04 – 31.12.06   01.01.01 – 31.12.03   01.01.02 – 31.12.04
  01.01.02 – 31.12.04     was $1,020,831   01.01.03 – 31.12.05
  01.01.03 – 31.12.05       01.01.04 – 31.12.06
   
* Under the cash LTIP, target payment is 60% of average salary over the three year period, maximum payment is 105% of average salary. No variation was made to any of the terms of the plan during the year. The performance measures are detailed on page 72.

78



Directors’ pension arrangements

During the year, Sir Fred Goodwin, Norman McLuskie, Gordon Pell, Iain Robertson and Fred Watt participated in The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund (‘the RBS Fund’). The RBS Fund is a defined benefit fund which provides pensions and other benefits within Inland Revenue limits.

The pension entitlements of Sir Fred Goodwin, Mr Pell, Mr Robertson, and Mr Watt within the RBS Fund are restricted by Inland Revenue limits as set out in the Finance Act 1989. Additional life assurance cover in excess of these limits is provided by a separate arrangement. Arrangements have been made to provide Sir Fred Goodwin and Mr Pell with additional pension benefits on a defined benefit basis outwith the RBS Fund. The figures shown below include the accrual in respect of these arrangements. Mr Watt is provided with additional pension benefits on a defined contribution basis and contributions made in the year are shown below.

Sir George Mathewson receives life insurance cover under an individual arrangement. The non-executive directors do not accrue pension benefits, other than Mr Robertson who continues to accrue benefits in the RBS Fund after his appointment as a non-executive director.

Lawrence Fish accrues pension benefits under a number of arrangements in the USA. Defined benefits are built up under the Citizens’ Qualified Plan, Excess Plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Arrangement. In addition, he is a member of two defined contribution arrangements – a Qualified 401(k) Plan and an Excess 401(k) Plan.

As in the 2003 Report and Accounts, disclosure of these benefits has been made in accordance with the Stock Exchange Listing Rules and the Combined Code and with the Directors’ Remuneration Report Regulations 2002.

Defined benefit arrangements   Age at
31 December 2004 		    Accrued entitlement at
31 December 2004
000 p.a. 		    Additional
pension
earned
during the
year ended
31 December
2004
000 p.a.		    Additional
pension
earned
during the
year ended
31 December
2004*
000 p.a. 		    Transfer
value as at
31 December
2004
000		    Transfer
value as at
31 December 2003
000		    Increase
in transfer
value during
year ended
31 December
2004
000		    Transfer value
for the additional
pension
earned
during the
year ended
31 December
2004*
000		  
 
Sir Fred Goodwin   46   £ 381   £ 56   £ 48   £ 3,591   £ 2,674   £ 917   £ 448  
Mr McLuskie   60   £ 205   £ 11   £ 7   £ 3,430   £ 3,358   £ 72   £ 87  
Mr Pell   54   £ 247   £ 18   £ 12   £ 3,592   £ 2,930   £ 662   £ 171  
Mr Robertson   59   £ 32   £ 4   £ 3   £ 565   £ 449   £ 116   £ 45  
Mr Watt   44   £ 7   £ 2   £ 2   £ 62   £ 40   £ 22   £ 15  
Mr Fish   60   $ 1,140   $ 257   $ 257   $ 10,046   $ 9,966   $ 80   $ 2,269  
 

* net of statutory revaluation applying to deferred pensions

  Notes:
(1) There is a significant difference in the form of disclosure required by the Combined Code and the Directors’ Remuneration Report Regulations 2002. The former requires the disclosure of the additional pension earned during the year and the transfer value equivalent to this pension based on stock market conditions at the end of the year. The latter requires the disclosure of the difference between the transfer value at the start and end of the year and is therefore dependent on the change in stock market conditions over the course of the year. The above disclosure has been made in accordance with the Combined Code and the Directors’ Remuneration Report Regulations 2002.
(2) Mr McLuskie retired on 23 August 2004 at his normal pension age. The figures for him above have been calculated as at his retirement date rather than 31 December 2004.
(3) The figures for Mr Pell include an additional pension secured by a transfer from his previous employer which increases in line with statutory revaluation, not salary inflation.
(4) The transfer values disclosed above do not represent a sum paid or payable to the individual director. Instead they represent a potential liability of the company /pension scheme.
(5) The transfer value for Mr Fish as at 31 December 2004 is based on a retirement age of 65.
   

Contributions and allowances paid in the year ended 31 December 2004 under defined contribution arrangements were:

    2004
000		     2003
000		  
 
Mr Watt £ 128   £ 109  
Mr Fish $ 91   $ 90  
 

Bob Scott, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
23 February 2005

79




Directors’ interests in shares
 

Ordinary shares

The following directors held a beneficial interest in the company’s ordinary shares:

  31 December
2004		 1 January 2004 or date
of appointment if later		   31 December
2004		 1 January 2004 or date
of appointment if later
Mr Buchan   5,000   5,000   Sir George Mathewson   250,816   247,978
Mr Fish   11,120   11,120   Mr Pell   582   582
Sir Fred Goodwin   64,960   64,718   Mr Robertson   129,632   125,139
Mr Hunter   1,500   1,500   Mr Scott   2,448   1,445
Mr Koch   20,000   20,000   Lord Vallance   2,500   2,500
Mr MacHale   10,000   –   Mr Watt   58,408   7,453
Miss Mackay   6,341   6,140      

No other director had an interest in the company’s ordinary shares during the year.

On both 7 January 2005 and 7 February 2005, seven ordinary shares of 25p each were acquired by Sir Fred Goodwin under the Group’s Buy As You Earn share scheme.

Preference shares

Lawrence Fish held 20,000 non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01 each at 31 December 2004 (2003 – 20,000). No other director had an interest in the preference shares during the year.

Loan notes

No director had an interest in loan notes during the year.

The company’s Register of Directors’ Interests, which is open to inspection, contains full details of directors’ shareholdings and options to subscribe.

No director held a non-beneficial interest in the shares of the company at 31 December 2004, at 1 January 2004 or date of appointment if later.

80







Statement of directors’ responsibilities
 

United Kingdom company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the Group as at the end of the financial year and of the profit or loss of the Group for that year. In preparing those accounts, the directors are required to:

  • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

  • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and

  • state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts.

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 1985. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

By order of the Board.

 

Miller McLean
Secretary
23 February 2005

81




 

82






Financial statements
 
 
Contents
   
84 Independent auditors’ report
   
85 Accounting policies
   
89 Consolidated profit and loss account
 
90 Consolidated balance sheet
   
91 Statement of consolidated total recognised gains and losses
   
91 Reconciliation of movements in consolidated shareholders’ funds
 
92 Consolidated cash flow statement
 
93 Balance sheet – the company
   
94 Notes on the accounts

83






Report of Independent registered public accounting firm to the members of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
 

We have audited the financial statements of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ("the company") and its subsidiaries (together "the Group") for the year ended 31 December 2004 which comprise the accounting policies, the profit and loss account, the balance sheets, the cash flow statement, the statement of total recognised gains and losses, the reconciliation of movements in shareholders’ funds and the related Notes 1 to 55. These financial statements have been prepared under the accounting policies set out therein. We have also audited the information in the part of the directors’ remuneration report that is described as having been audited.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors

As described in the ‘Statement of directors’ responsibilities’, the company’s directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and accounting standards. They are also responsible for the preparation of the other information contained in the 2004 Annual Report on Form 20-F including the directors’ remuneration report. Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements and the part of the directors’ remuneration report described as having been audited in accordance with relevant United Kingdom legal and regulatory requirements and auditing standards.

We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and whether the financial statements and the part of the directors’ remuneration report described as having been audited have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985. We also report to you if, in our opinion, the directors’ report is not consistent with the financial statements, if the company has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information specified by law regarding directors’ remuneration and transactions with the company and other members of the Group is not disclosed.

We review whether the corporate governance statement reflects the company's compliance with the nine provisions of the Combined Code specified for our review by the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority, and we report if it does not. We are not required to consider whether the Board's statements on internal control cover all risks and controls, or form an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group's corporate governance procedures or its risk and control procedures.

We read the directors’ report and the other information contained in the 2004 Annual Report on Form 20-F as described in the contents section including the unaudited part of the directors’ remuneration report and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial statements.

Basis of audit opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with United Kingdom auditing standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board and with the standards of the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and the part of the directors’ remuneration report described as having been audited. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the directors in the preparation of the financial statements and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the circumstances of the company and the Group, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements and the part of the directors’ remuneration report described as having been audited are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion, we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements and the part of the directors’ remuneration report described as having been audited.

UK opinion

In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and the Group as at 31 December 2004 and of the profit and cash flows of the Group for the year then ended and the financial statements and the part of the directors’ remuneration report described as having been audited have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985.

US opinion

In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group as at 31 December 2004 and 2003 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 31 December 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom.

As discussed in Note 1, the Group has adopted Financial Reporting Standard 17 “Retirement Benefits”. As required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom, the financial position of the Group, the results of its operations and its cash flows for 2003 and 2002 have been restated and are presented on a comparable basis.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom vary in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The application of the latter would have affected the determination of net income for each of the three years in the period ended 31 December 2004 and the determination of shareholders’ equity as at 31 December 2004 and 2003, to the extent summarised in Note 53 to the financial statements.

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
Edinburgh
23 February 2005

84






Accounting policies
 

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards in the UK and the Statements of Recommended Accounting Practice issued by the British Bankers’ Association and by the Finance and Leasing Association. The Statement of Recommended Practice issued by the Association of British Insurers (2003) has been followed by the insurance members of the Group; they have been consolidated in the recognised manner for banking groups, in particular, by using the embedded value method for life business. A summary of the more important accounting policies is set out below. The consolidated accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 (“the Act”) relating to banking groups.

The accounts of the company are prepared in accordance with section 226 of, and Schedule 4 to, the Act and, as permitted by section 230(3) of the Act, no profit and loss account is presented.

Change of accounting policy

FRS 17 ‘Retirement Benefits’ (“FRS 17”) supersedes Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 24 'Pension costs’ (“SSAP24”) and the Urgent Issues Task Force Abstract 6 ‘Accounting for post-retirement benefits other than pensions’. All the disclosure requirements of FRS 17 were adopted by the Group in its 2002 financial statements. In November 2002, the Accounting Standards Board deferred the effective date of the recognition and measurement elements of the standard to accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005. The Group has, however, implemented the recognition and measurement provisions of FRS 17 in 2004 in the light of the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards from 1 January 2005; the measurement principles in the equivalent international accounting standard (IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’) are similar to those in FRS 17.

FRS 17 requires assets in a defined benefit scheme to be measured at their fair value at the balance sheet date. Scheme liabilities are measured using the projected unit method, which takes account of projected earnings increases, using actuarial assumptions that are mutually compatible and lead to the best estimate of the future cash flows. These cash flows are discounted at the interest rate applicable to high-quality corporate bonds of the same currency and term as the liabilities. The surplus/deficit in a defined benefit scheme is the excess/shortfall of the value of the assets in the scheme over/below the value of the scheme liabilities. A surplus is recognised as an asset to the extent that the employer is able to recover the surplus either through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the scheme. A deficit is recognised as a liability to the extent of the employer’s legal or constructive obligation to fund it. The current service cost (the increase in scheme liabilities arising from employee service in the current period), past service costs (the cost of improvements to benefits for service relating to prior periods) and interest cost (the unwind of the discount on scheme liabilities) net of the expected return on scheme assets are charged to the profit and loss account. Actuarial gains and losses (changes in surpluses or deficits due to experience gains and losses and to changes in actuarial assumptions) are recognised in full in the statement of total recognised gains and losses for the period. Under SSAP24 for the main defined benefit scheme the profit and loss account charge comprised the cost of accruing benefits for active employees and the amortisation of the surplus recognised on the acquisition of NatWest offset by a credit for the amortisation of the scheme surplus. A pension prepayment was included in the Group’s balance sheet.

The effect of this change of policy on the profit and loss account has been to credit £85 million (2003 – £52 million; 2002 – £201 million) to Other operating income and to increase Administrative expenses – staff costs by £217 million (2003 –£135 million; 2002 – £112 million). Profit before tax has been reduced by £132 million (2003 – £83 million; 2002 – increased by £89 million). A deficit, net of deferred tax, of £1,901 million (2003 – £1,445 million) has been recognised on the balance sheet; Prepayments and accrued income of £1,079 million (2003 – £112 million), Other assets of £654 million (2003 – £735 million) and Accruals and deferred income of £26 million (2003 – £18 million) have been eliminated; the liability for deferred taxation has reduced by £315 million (2003 – £230 million) and the Deferred tax asset (within Other assets) has increased by £19 million (2003 – £20 million). Other provisions have decreased by £73 million (2003 – £43 million) and shareholders’ funds by £3,220 million. A prior year adjustment of £2,001 million is shown in the Statement of consolidated total recognised gains and losses. The prior year adjustment comprises: the recognition of the pension deficit at 31 December 2003 of £1,414 million (£1,968 million less deferred tax of £554 million); the elimination of pension prepayments less accruals of £58 million (net of deferred tax); and the elimination of the pension surplus recognised on the acquisition of NatWest amounting to £529 million (net of deferred tax and amortisation).

1 Accounting convention and bases of consolidation

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention modified by the periodic revaluation of premises and certain investments. To avoid undue delay in the presentation of the Group’s accounts, the accounts of certain subsidiary undertakings have been made up to 30 November. There have been no changes in respect of these subsidiary undertakings, in the period from their balance sheet dates to 31 December, that materially affect the view given by the Group’s accounts.

2 Revenue recognition

Interest is credited to the profit and loss account as it accrues unless there is significant doubt that it can be collected (as described in the accounting policy on loans and advances).

Fees in respect of services are recognised as the right to consideration accrues through performance to customers. Services are in respect of financial services related products, the arrangement is generally contractual, the cost of providing this service is incurred as the service is rendered and the price is usually fixed and always determinable. The application of the Group’s policy to significant fee types is outlined below.

85





Accounting policies continued

Loan origination fees: up-front lending fees are recognised as income when receivable except where they are charged in lieu of interest or charged to cover the cost of a continuing service to the borrower, in which case they are credited to income over the life of the advance.

Commitment and utilisation fees: these are generally determined as a percentage of the outstanding used or unused facility. They are usually charged to the customer in arrears and recognised when charged.

Payment services: this comprises income received for payment services including cheques cashed, direct debits, Clearing House Automated Payments (the UK electronic settlement system) and BACS payments (the automated clearing house that processes direct debits and direct credits). These are generally charged on a per transaction basis. The income is earned when the payment or transaction occurs. Payment services income is usually charged to the customer’s account, monthly or quarterly in arrears. Accruals are raised for services provided but not charged at period end.

Card related services: fees from credit card business include:

Commission received from retailers for processing credit and debit card transactions: income is accrued to the profit and loss account as the service is performed.

Interchange received: as issuer, the Group receives a fee (interchange) each time a cardholder purchases goods and services. The Group also receives interchange fees from other card issuers for providing cash advances through its branch and Automated Teller Machine networks. These fees are accrued once the transaction has taken place.

An annual fee payable by a credit card holder is charged at the beginning of each year but is deferred and taken to income over the period of the service i.e. 12 months.

Insurance brokerage: this is made up of fees and commissions received from the agency sale of insurance. Commission on the sale of an insurance contract is earned at the inception of the policy as the insurance has been arranged and placed. However, provision is made where commission is refundable in the event of policy cancellation in line with estimated cancellations.

Securities and derivatives held for trading are recorded at fair value. Changes in fair value are recognised in dealing profits together with dividends from, and interest receivable and payable on, trading business assets and liabilities.

3 Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the cost of acquisition of subsidiary and associated undertakings over the fair value of the Group’s share of net tangible assets acquired. Goodwill arising on acquisitions of subsidiary and associated undertakings after 1 October 1998 is capitalised on the balance sheet and amortised on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful economic life, currently over periods up to 20 years. Capitalised goodwill is reviewed for impairment at the end of the first full year following an acquisition and subsequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable in full. Goodwill arising on acquisitions of subsidiary and associated undertakings prior to 1 October 1998, previously charged directly against profit and loss account reserves, was not reinstated under the transitional provisions of FRS 10 ‘Goodwill and Intangible Assets’. It will be written back only on disposal and reflected in the calculation of the gains or losses arising.

4 Foreign currencies

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Profit and loss accounts of overseas branches and subsidiary undertakings are translated at the average rates of exchange for the period. Exchange differences arising from the application of closing rates of exchange to the opening net assets of overseas branches and subsidiary undertakings and from restating their results from average to period-end rates are taken to profit and loss account reserves, together with exchange differences arising on related foreign currency borrowings. All other exchange differences are included in operating profit.

5 Pensions and other post-retirement benefits

The Group provides retirement benefits, in the form of pensions and healthcare plans, to eligible employees. Defined benefit scheme liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit method and discounted at a rate that equals the current rate of return on a high quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency to the scheme liabilities. Scheme assets are measured at their fair value. Any surplus or deficit of scheme assets over liabilities is recognised in the balance sheet as an asset (surplus) or liability (deficit), net of related notional deferred tax. An asset is only recognised to the extent that the surplus can be recovered through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the scheme.

The current service cost and any past service costs are charged to the profit and loss account within Administrative expenses – staff costs. The expected return on scheme assets less the unwinding of the discount on the scheme liabilities is included in Other operating income. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in the statement of total recognised gains and losses, net of related notional deferred tax.

6 Leases

Contracts to lease assets and hire purchase agreements are classified as finance leases if they transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the asset to the customer. Other contracts are classified as operating leases. Total gross earnings under finance leases are allocated to accounting periods using the actuarial after tax method to give a constant periodic rate of return on the net cash investment. Finance lease receivables are stated in the balance sheet at the amount of the net investment in the lease. Rental income from operating leases is credited to the profit and loss account on a receivable basis over the term of the lease. Balance sheet carrying values of finance lease receivables and operating lease assets include amounts in respect of the residual values of the leased assets. Unguaranteed residual values are subject to regular review to identify potential impairments. Provisions are made for impairment arising on specific asset categories.

86





7 General insurance

General insurance comprises short-duration contracts and include principally property and liability insurance contracts. Due to the nature of the products sold – retail based property and casualty, motor, home and personal health insurance contracts – the insurance protection is provided on an even basis throughout the term of the policy.

In calculating operating profit from general insurance activities, premiums (net of reinsurance premiums) are recognised in the accounting period in which they begin. Unearned premiums represent the proportion of the net premiums that relate to periods of insurance after the balance sheet date and are calculated over the period of exposure under the policy, on a daily basis, 24th’s basis or allowing for the estimated incidence of exposure under policies which are longer than twelve months. Provision is made where necessary for the estimated amount required over and above unearned premiums net of reinsurance, including that in respect of future written business on discontinued lines under the run-off of delegated underwriting authority arrangements. It is designed to meet future claims and related expenses and is calculated across related classes of business on the basis of a separate carry forward of deferred acquisition expenses after making allowance for investment income.

Acquisition expenses relating to new and renewed business for all classes are deferred over the period during which the premiums are unearned. The principal acquisition costs so deferred are commissions payable, direct advertising expenditure, costs associated with the telesales and underwriting staff and prepaid claims handling costs in respect of delegated claims handling arrangements for claims which are expected to occur after the balance sheet date.

Claims (net of reinsurance) are recognised in the accounting period in which the loss occurs. Provision is made for the full cost (net of reinsurance) of settling outstanding claims at the balance sheet date, including claims estimated to have been incurred but not yet reported at that date, and claims handling expenses.

8 Long-term life assurance business

The Group’s long-term assurance business includes whole-life, guaranteed renewable term life, endowment, annuity and universal life contracts that are expected to remain in force for an extended period of time, generally five to forty years.

The value placed on the Group’s long-term life assurance business comprises the net assets of the Group’s life assurance subsidiaries, including its interest in the surpluses retained within the long-term assurance funds, and the present value of profits inherent in in-force policies. In calculating the value of in-force policies, future surpluses expected to emerge are estimated using appropriate assumptions as to future mortality, persistency and levels of expenses, which are then discounted at a risk-adjusted rate. Changes in this value, which is determined on a post-tax basis, are included in operating profit, grossed up at the underlying rate of taxation. Long-term assurance assets attributable to policyholders are valued on the following bases: equity shares and debt securities at market price; investment properties and loans at valuation. These assets are held in the life funds of the Group’s life assurance companies, and although legally owned by them, the Group only benefits from these assets when surpluses are declared. To reflect the distinct nature of the long-term assurance assets, they are shown separately on the consolidated balance sheet, as are liabilities attributable to policyholders.

The Group has reinsured contracts that transfer significant insurance risk. Within net assets, the reinsurance cash flows are recognised when they become payable. For most contracts this effectively spreads the cost of reinsurance over the life of the reinsured contracts. In some cases, the acquisition costs are financed by the reinsurer offering a nil premium payment period. In these cases, the acquisition costs incurred on the underlying insurance contracts are compared with the benefit arising with respect to the nil premium paying period on the reinsurance contract.

9 Loans and advances

The Group makes provisions for bad and doubtful debts, through charges to the profit and loss account, so as to record impaired loans and advances at their expected ultimate net realisable value.

Specific provisions are made against individual loans and advances that the Group no longer expects to recover in full. For the Group’s portfolios of smaller balance homogeneous advances, such as credit card receivables, specific provisions are established on a portfolio basis taking into account the level of arrears, security and past loss experience. For loans and advances that are individually assessed, the specific provision is determined from a review of the financial condition of the borrower and any guarantor and takes into account the nature and value of any security held.

The general provision is made to cover bad and doubtful debts that have not been separately identified at the balance sheet date but are known to be present in any portfolio of advances. The level of general provision is determined in the light of past experience, current economic and other factors affecting the business environment and the Group’s monitoring and control procedures, including the scope of specific provisioning procedures.

Specific and general provisions are deducted from loans and advances. When there is significant doubt that interest receivable can be collected, it is excluded from the profit and loss account and credited to an interest suspense account. Loans and advances and suspended interest are written off in part or in whole when there is no realistic prospect of recovery.

10 Taxation

Provision is made for taxation at current enacted rates on taxable profits taking into account relief for overseas taxation where appropriate. Timing differences arise where gains and losses are accounted for in different periods for financial reporting purposes and for taxation purposes. Deferred taxation is accounted for in full for all such timing differences, except in relation to revaluations of fixed assets where there is no commitment to dispose of the asset, taxable gains on sales

87


Accounting policies continued

of fixed assets that are rolled over into the tax cost of replacement assets, and unremitted overseas earnings. Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is considered more likely than not that they will be recovered. Deferred tax amounts are not discounted.

11 Debt securities and equity shares

Debt securities and equity shares intended for use on a continuing basis in the Group’s activities are classified as investment securities and are stated at cost less provision for any permanent diminution in value. The cost of dated investment securities is adjusted for the amortisation of premiums or discounts over periods to redemption and the amortisation is included in interest receivable. Other debt securities and equity shares are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recognised in the profit and loss account.

12 Shares in subsidiary undertakings

The company’s shares in subsidiary undertakings are stated in the balance sheet of the company at directors’ valuation that takes account of the subsidiary undertakings’ net asset values.

13 Tangible fixed assets

Freehold and long leasehold properties are revalued on a rolling basis, each property being revalued at least every five years. Other tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation and provisions for impairment. Costs of adapting premises for the use of the Group are separately identified and depreciated.

Tangible fixed assets are depreciated to their residual value over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight-line basis, as follows:

Freehold and long leasehold buildings   50 years
     
Short leaseholds   unexpired period of
    the lease
     
Property adaptation costs   10 to 15 years
     
Computer equipment   up to 5 years
     
Other equipment   4 to 15 years

Assets on operating leases are depreciated over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line or reverse-annuity basis. Land has an unlimited life and is not depreciated.

Investment properties are revalued annually to open market value. No depreciation is charged on freehold investment properties, in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 19 ‘Accounting for investment properties’. This is a departure from the requirements of the Companies Act 1985 which requires all tangible fixed assets to be depreciated. Investment properties are held not for consumption but for investment and the directors consider that to depreciate them would not give a true and fair view. It is not practicable to assess estimated useful lives for investment properties, and accordingly the effect of not depreciating them cannot be reasonably quantified.

14 Derivatives

The Group enters into derivative transactions including futures, forwards, swaps and options principally in the interest rate, foreign exchange and equity markets. The accounting treatment for these instruments is dependent upon whether they are entered into for trading or non-trading (hedging) purposes.

Trading

Derivatives held for trading purposes are recognised in the accounts at fair value. Gains or losses arising from changes in fair value are included in dealing profits in the consolidated profit and loss account. Fair value is based on quoted market prices. Where representative market prices are not available, the fair value is determined from current market information using appropriate pricing or valuation models. Adjustments are made to quoted market prices where appropriate to cover credit risk, liquidity risk and future operational costs. In the consolidated balance sheet, positive fair values (assets) of trading derivatives are included in Other assets and negative fair values (liabilities) in Other liabilities. Positive and negative fair values of trading derivatives are offset where the contracts have been entered into under master netting agreements or other arrangements that give a legally enforceable right of set-off.

Non-trading

Non-trading derivatives are entered into by the Group to hedge exposures arising from transactions entered into in the normal course of banking activities. They are recognised in the accounts in accordance with the accounting treatment of the underlying transaction or transactions being hedged. To be classified as non-trading, a derivative must match or eliminate the risk inherent in the hedged item from potential movements in interest rates, exchange rates or market values. In addition, there must be a demonstrable link to an underlying transaction, pool of transactions or specified future transaction or transactions. Specified future transactions must be reasonably certain to arise for the derivative to be accounted for as a hedge. In the event that a non-trading derivative transaction is terminated or ceases to be an effective hedge, the derivative is re-measured at fair value and any resulting profit or loss amortised over the remaining life of the underlying transaction or transactions being hedged. If a hedged item is derecognised, or a specified future transaction is no longer likely to occur, the related non-trading derivative is remeasured at fair value and the resulting profit or loss taken to the profit and loss account.

15 Sale and repurchase transactions

Securities which have been sold with an agreement to repurchase continue to be shown on the balance sheet and the sale proceeds recorded as a deposit. Securities acquired in reverse sale and repurchase transactions are not recognised in the balance sheet and the purchase price is treated as a loan. The difference between the sale price and repurchase price is accrued evenly over the life of the transaction and charged or credited to the profit and loss account as interest payable or receivable.

88






Consolidated profit and loss account
for the year ended 31 December 2004

  Note   2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		*     2002
£m 		*  
 
Interest receivable        
       – interest receivable and similar income arising from debt securities       1,517   1,519   1,591
       – other interest receivable and similar income       15,179   12,479   11,970
Interest payable     (7,488 )   (5,697 )   (5,712 )
 
Net interest income     9,208   8,301   7,849
 
Dividend income     79   58   58
Fees and commissions receivable     6,634   5,693   5,249
Fees and commissions payable     (1,954 )   (1,337 )   (965 )
Dealing profits   1   1,988   1,793   1,462
Other operating income     1,855   1,650   1,410
 
    8,602   7,857   7,214
General insurance        
       – earned premiums     5,357   3,627   2,442
       – reinsurance     (413 )   (504 )   (489 )
 
Non-interest income     13,546   10,980   9,167
 
Total income     22,754   19,281   17,016
 
Administrative expenses        
       – staff costs**   2   5,344   4,653   4,584
       – premises and equipment**     1,184   1,073   1,006
       – other**     2,296   2,108   2,253
Depreciation and amortisation        
       – tangible fixed assets**   20   1,107   919   895
       – goodwill   19   915   763   731
 
Operating expenses     10,846   9,516   9,469
 
Profit before other operating charges     11,908   9,765   7,547
General insurance        
       – gross claims     3,724   2,644   1,693
       – reinsurance     (244 )   (449 )   (343 )
 
Profit before provisions for bad and doubtful debts       8,428   7,570   6,197
Provisions for bad and doubtful debts   13   1,428   1,461   1,286
Amounts written off fixed asset investments     83   33   59
 
Profit on ordinary activities before tax   4   6,917   6,076   4,852
Tax on profit on ordinary activities   5   2,155   1,888   1,582
 
Profit on ordinary activities after tax     4,762   4,188   3,270
Minority interests (including non-equity)   32   250   210   133
 
Profit for the financial year     4,512   3,978   3,137
Preference dividends – non-equity   6   256   261   305
 
    4,256   3,717   2,832
Additional Value Shares dividend – non-equity   6   ––   1,463   798
 
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders     4,256   2,254   2,034
Ordinary dividends   7   1,837   1,490   1,267
 
Retained profit   34   2,419   764   767
 
Per 25p ordinary share:        
Basic earnings   9   138.0 p   76.9 p   70.6 p
 
Diluted earnings   9   136.9 p   76.3 p   69.6 p
 
Dividends   7   58.0 p   50.3 p   43.7 p
 

All items dealt with in arriving at profit on ordinary activities before tax relate to continuing operations.
 
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation and the retained profit for the year on a historical cost basis were not materially different from the reported amounts.
 
*  restated (see page 85)
**  includes integration expenditure (see Note 4)
 

89






Consolidated balance sheet
at 31 December 2004

  Note   2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		* 
 
Assets      
Cash and balances at central banks     4,293   3,822
Items in the course of collection from other banks     2,629   2,501
Treasury bills and other eligible bills   10   6,110   4,846
Loans and advances to banks   11   58,260   51,891
 
Loans and advances to customers     350,229   253,392
Less: non-returnable finance   12   4,760   861
 
  12   345,469   252,531
Debt securities   15   91,211   79,949
Equity shares   16   2,960   2,300
Intangible fixed assets   19   17,576   13,131
Tangible fixed assets   20   16,294   13,927
Settlement balances     5,682   2,857
Other assets   21   22,255   17,807
Prepayments and accrued income     6,928   5,309
 
    579,667   450,871
Long-term assurance assets attributable to policyholders   22   3,800   3,557
 
Total assets     583,467   454,428
 
Liabilities      
Deposits by banks   23   99,081   67,323
Items in the course of transmission to other banks     802   958
Customer accounts   24   285,062   236,963
Debt securities in issue   25   58,960   41,016
Settlement balances and short positions   26   32,990   21,369
Other liabilities   27   26,152   20,584
Accruals and deferred income     15,588   13,155
Post-retirement benefit liabilities   3   1,901   1,445
Provisions for liabilities and charges      
       – deferred taxation   28   2,873   2,036
       – other provisions   29   198   213
Subordinated liabilities      
       – dated loan capital   30   11,013   9,312
       – undated loan capital including convertible debt   31   9,353   7,686
Minority interests      
       – equity     158   (11 )
       – non-equity   32   3,671   2,724
Called up share capital   33   822   769
Share premium account   34   12,964   8,175
Merger reserve   34   10,307   10,881
Other reserves   34   457   419
Revaluation reserve   34   92   7
Profit and loss account   34   7,223   5,847
 
Shareholders’ funds      
       – equity     27,345   23,175
       – non-equity   34   4,520   2,923
 
    579,667   450,871
Long-term assurance liabilities attributable to policyholders   22   3,800   3,557
 
Total liabilities     583,467   454,428
 
Memorandum items      
Contingent liabilities   41   16,093   14,864
 
Commitments (standby facilities, credit lines and other)   41   180,777   139,693
 

*  restated (see page 85)
 
The accounts were approved by the Board of directors on 23 February 2005 and signed on its behalf by:
 
Sir George Mathewson   Sir Fred Goodwin   Fred Watt
Chairman   Group Chief Executive   Group Finance Director

90






Statement of consolidated total recognised gains and losses
for the year ended 31 December 2004

  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		*   2002
£m 		*
 
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders   4,256   2,254   2,034
 
          Actuarial (losses)/gains   (1,598 )   69   (2,392 )
          Current tax relief   56   ––   ––
          Deferred tax asset/(liability)   408   (33 )   700
 
Actuarial (losses)/gains recognised in post-retirement benefit schemes   (1,134 )   36   (1,692 )
 
          Currency translation adjustments and other movements   (399 )   48   37
          Revaluation of premises   56   (69 )   (33 )
 
Other recognised (losses)/gains   (343 )   (21 )   4
 
Total recognised gains and losses in the year   2,779   2,269   346
 
Prior year adjustment arising from the implementation of FRS 17   (2,001 )    
 
Total recognised gains and losses since 31 December 2003   778    
 
                 
Reconciliation of movements in consolidated shareholders’ funds                
for the year ended 31 December 2004      
  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		*   2002
£m 		*
 
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders   4,256   2,254   2,034
Ordinary dividends   (1,837 )   (1,490 )   (1,267 )
 
Retained profit for the year   2,419   764   767
Issue of ordinary and preference shares   4,603   775   560
Conversion of exchangeable undated loan capital   460   ––   ––
Redemption of preference shares   ––   (364 )   (600 )
Actuarial (losses)/gains recognised in post-retirement benefit schemes   (1,134 )   36   (1,692 )
Own shares held in relation to employee share scheme   (7 )   ––   ––
Goodwill previously written off to reserves   ––   40   ––
Other recognised gains and losses   (343 )   (21 )   4
Currency translation adjustment on share premium account   (231 )   (203 )   (283 )
 
Net increase/(decrease) in shareholders’ funds   5,767   1,027   (1,244 )
 
Opening shareholders’ funds as previously reported   28,099   27,052   26,668
Prior year adjustment arising from the implementation of FRS 17   (2,001 )   (1,981 )   (353 )
 
Opening shareholders’ funds as restated   26,098   25,071   26,315
Net increase/(decrease) in shareholders funds   5,767   1,027   (1,244 )
 
Closing shareholders’ funds   31,865   26,098   25,071
 

* restated (see page 85)

91





Consolidated cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 December 2004

  Note   2004
£m 		    2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2003
£m 		   

2002
£m

    2002
£m 		 
Net cash inflow from operating activities   43     6,307     19,708     13,737
Dividends received from associated                      
     undertakings         9     9     1
Returns on investments and servicing of                
     finance                
Preference dividends paid     (253 )     (269 )     (317 )  
Additional Value Shares dividend paid     ––     (1,463 )     (798 )  
Dividends paid to minority shareholders in              
       subsidiary undertakings     (204 )     (130 )     (112 )  
Interest paid on subordinated liabilities     (613 )     (557 )     (674 )  
Net cash outflow from returns on                          
     investments and servicing of finance       (1,070 )     (2,419 )     (1,901 )
Taxation              
UK tax paid     (812 )     (933 )     (833 )  
Overseas tax paid     (582 )     (521 )     (274 )  
Net cash outflow from taxation       (1,394 )     (1,454 )     (1,107 )
Capital expenditure and financial              
     investment              
Purchase of investment securities     (41,790 )     (44,861 )     (32,701 )  
Sale and maturity of investment securities     43,022     41,805     26,072  
Purchase of tangible fixed assets     (4,354 )     (5,017 )     (3,367 )  
Sale of tangible fixed assets     1,596     1,108     811  
Net cash outflow from capital                          
     expenditure and financial investment       (1,526 )     (6,965 )     (9,185 )
Acquisitions and disposals              
Purchase of businesses and subsidiary                
       undertakings (net of cash acquired)   44   (7,648 )     (1,748 )     (308 )  
Investment in associated undertakings     (48 )     (2 )     (2 )  
Sale of subsidiary and associated undertakings              
       (net of cash sold)
  45   22     179     29  
Net cash outflow from acquisitions and                            
     disposals         (7,674 )     (1,571 )     (281 )
Ordinary equity dividends paid       (1,235 )     (772 )     (729 )
Net cash (outflow)/inflow before                      
     financing       (6,583 )     6,536     535
Financing              
Proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital     2,845     184     85  
Proceeds from issue of preference share capital     1,358     ––     ––  
Proceeds from issue of trust preferred securities     1,075     883     1,242  
Redemption of preference share capital     ––     (364 )     (600 )  
Issue of subordinated liabilities     4,624     3,817     2,157  
Repayment of subordinated liabilities     (718 )     (336 )     (202 )  
Increase/(decrease) in minority interests     185     (56 )     29  
Net cash inflow from financing       9,369     4,128     2,711
Increase in cash   48     2,786     10,664     3,246

92





Balance sheet – the company
at 31 December 2004

  Note   2004
£m 		    2003
£m
 
Fixed assets      
Investments:      
Shares in Group undertakings   17   36,870   32,354
Loans to Group undertakings   18   4,101   4,554
 
    40,971   36,908
 
Current assets      
Debtors:      
Due by subsidiary undertakings     458   238
Debtors and prepayments     174   202
 
    632   440
 
Creditors      
Amounts falling due within one year:      
Due to banks     66   71
Dated loan capital   30   40   40
Debt securities in issue     1,608   1,877
Other creditors     247   217
Proposed final dividend   7   1,308   1,059
 
    3,269   3,264
 
Net current liabilities     (2,637 )   (2,824 )
 
Total assets less current liabilities     38,334   34,084
 
Creditors      
Amounts falling due beyond one year:      
Loans from subsidiary undertakings     162   186
Dated loan capital   30   4,810   3,714
Undated loan capital including convertible debt   31   1,085   1,639
 
    6,057   5,539
Capital and reserves      
Called up share capital   33   822   769
Share premium account   34   12,964   8,175
Other reserves   34   156   156
Revaluation reserve   34   14,970   16,857
Profit and loss account   34   3,365   2,588
Shareholders’ funds      
       – equity     27,757   25,622
       – non-equity   34   4,520   2,923
    38,334   34,084
 

The accounts were approved by the Board of directors on 23 February 2005 and signed on its behalf by:
         
         
         
Sir George Mathewson   Sir Fred Goodwin   Fred Watt
Chairman   Group Chief Executive   Group Finance Director

93





Notes on the accounts

1 Dealing profits      
  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		*     2002
£m 		*  
 
Foreign exchange (1)   616   540   447
Securities      
       Equities (2)   36   24   18
       Debt (3)   811   774   644
Interest rate derivatives (4)   525   455   353
 
  1,988   1,793   1,462
 
 
Dealing profits include interest income and expense recognised on trading-related interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and exclude direct costs and administrative expenses.
         
    Notes:                
(1)   Includes spot and forward foreign exchange contracts and currency swaps, futures and options and related hedges and funding.                
(2)   Includes equities, equity derivatives, commodity contracts and related hedges and funding.                
(3)   Includes debt securities and related hedges and funding.                
(4)   Includes interest rate swaps, forward rate agreements, interest rate options, interest rate futures and credit derivatives and related hedges and funding.          
         
         
2 Administrative expenses – staff costs      
  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		*     2002
£m 		*  
 
Wages, salaries and other staff costs   4,543   3,997   4,001
Social security costs   295   248   239
Pension costs (see Note 3)   506   408   344
 
  5,344   4,653   4,584
 
  *  restated (see page 85)      
         
         
  The average number of persons employed by the Group during the year, excluding temporary staff, was 133,300 (2003 – 119,500; 2002 – 113,500).
     
     
3   Pension costs
     
    The Group operates a number of pension schemes which are predominantly defined benefit schemes whose assets are independent of the Group's finances. In addition to the main scheme, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund, the Group operates a number of other UK and overseas pension schemes. It also provides other post-retirement benefits, principally through subscriptions to private healthcare schemes in the UK and the US and unfunded post-retirement benefit plans. Provision for the costs of these benefits is charged to the profit and loss account over the average remaining future service lives of the eligible employees. The amounts are not material.
               
    The total pension costs for the Group were as follows:          
                               
    Amount charged to profit and loss account   Main UK
scheme
£m 		    Other
schemes
£m 		    2004
Total
£m 		    2003
Total
£m 		    2002
Total
£m
   
    Expected return on pension scheme assets   (840 )   (82 )   (922 )   (826 )   (988 )
    Interest on pension scheme liabilities   759   78   837   774   787
   
    Net return credited to other operating income   (81 )   (4 )   (85 )   (52 )   (201 )
    Current service cost   400   51   451   371   322
    Past service cost   ––   11   11   ––   3
   
    Net pension cost defined benefit schemes   319   58   377   319   124
    Defined contribution schemes and other retirement benefits   ––   44   44   37   19
   
    Total net pension costs   319   102   421   356   143
                 
                 
    The total net pension costs are included in the profit and loss account as follows:   2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
   
    Other operating income       (85 )   (52 )   (201 )
    Staff costs – pension costs (see Note 2)       506   408   344
   
    Total net pension costs       421   356   143

94



For the purposes of FRS 17, interim valuations of the Group’s schemes were prepared to 31 December by independent actuaries, using the following assumptions:

  2004         2003         2002  
 
  Main UK
scheme 		    Other Group
schemes 		*    Main UK
scheme 		    Other Group
schemes 		*    Main UK
scheme 		    Other Group
schemes 		*
 
Rate of increase in salaries (per annum)   3.95 %   3.6 %   3.95 %   3.8 %   3.50 %   3.2 %
Rate of increase in pensions in payment (per annum)   2.70 %   2.5 %   2.70 %   2.3 %   2.25 %   1.7 %
Discount rate (per annum)   5.40 %   5.2 %   5.60 %   5.8 %   5.75 %   5.8 %
Inflation assumption (per annum)   2.70 %   2.5 %   2.70 %   2.1 %   2.25 %   1.7 %
 
* weighted average            
               
The assets and liabilities of the schemes were as follows:
                             
  2004         2003         2002    
   
 
  Main UK
scheme
£m 		    Other Group
schemes
£m 		    Main UK
scheme
£m 		    Other Group
schemes
£m 		    Main UK
schemes
£m 		    Other Group
schemes
£m
 
Equities   7,713   777   7,621   686   7,161   610
Bonds   2,238   244   3,818   276   3,298   260
Other   3,647   208   383   103   223   140
 
Total market value of assets   13,598   1,229   11,822   1,065   10,682   1,010
Present value of scheme liabilities   (16,051 )   (1,626 )   (13,594 )   (1,261 )   (12,418 )   (1,130 )
 
Net deficit in the schemes   (2,453 )   (397 )   (1,772 )   (196 )   (1,736 )   (120 )
Deferred tax asset   905   78   532   22   521   20
 
Net pension deficit   (1,548 )   (319 )   (1,240 )   (174 )   (1,215 )   (100 )
Other unfunded liabilities (net)   ––-   (34 )   ––   (31 )   ––   (26 )
 
Post-retirement benefit liabilities   (1,548 )   (353 )   (1,240 )   (205 )   (1,215 )   (126 )
 
 
The assumptions for long-term rates of return on the principal classes of assets at 31 December 2004 were equities 8.1%, gilts 4.5%, other bonds 5.4%, property 6.3% and cash and other assets 4.6% (2003 – equities 8.4%, gilts 4.8%, other bonds 5.6%, property 6.6%  and cash and other assets 4.9%; 2002 – equities 8.4%, gilts 4.5%, other bonds 5.75%, property 6.5% and cash 4.5%).
                 
Amount recognised in the statement of consolidated total recognised gains and losses   2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
 
Actual return less expected return on pension scheme assets   411   872   (2,645 )
Experience gains and losses arising on scheme liabilities   (631 )   7   (25 )
Changes in assumptions underlying the present value of scheme liabilities   (1,378 )   (810 )   278
 
Actuarial (losses)/gains         (1,598 )   69   (2,392 )
Current tax relief         56   ––   ––
Deferred tax asset/(liability)         408   (33 )   700
 
Actuarial (losses)/gains recognised in post-retirement benefit schemes   (1,134 )   36   (1,692 )
 
                 
Movement in pension schemes (deficits)/surpluses during the year   2004
Total
£m 		    2003
Total
£m 		    2002
Total
£m
 
(Deficit)/surplus in the pension schemes at 1 January         (1,968 )   (1,856 )   492
Movement in year:            
           Current service cost         (451 )   (371 )   (322 )
           Past service cost         (11 )   ––   (3 )
           Contributions         1,145   139   167
           Other operating income         85   52   201
           Actuarial (losses)/gains         (1,598 )   69   (2,392 )
           Acquisition of subsidiaries         (32 )   ––   ––
           Exchange and other movements         (20 )   (1 )   1
 
Deficit in schemes at 31 December         (2,850 )   (1,968 )   (1,856 )
Deferred tax asset         983   554   541
 
Net pension deficit         (1,867 )   (1,414 )   (1,315 )
Other unfunded liabilities (net)         (34 )   (31 )   (26 )
 
Post-retirement benefit liabilities         (1,901 )   (1,445 )   (1,341 )
 

Following the latest formal valuation carried out by independent actuaries as at 31 March 2004, the contribution rate with effect from 1 April 2004 for the main UK scheme is 21.5% of pensionable salaries (2003 and 2002 – 6.8% based on the valuation as at 31 March 2001). Contributions for 2004 include a lump sum of £750 million paid into the Main Fund in addition to the monthly contributions.

95






Notes on the accounts continued

3   Pension costs (continued)      
                 
    History of experience gains and losses   2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
   
    Difference between expected and actual return on scheme assets:      
               Amount   411   872   (2,645 )
               Percentage of scheme assets   2.8 %   6.8%     (22.6% )
    Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities:      
               Amount   (631 )   7   (25 )
               Percentage of the present value of scheme liabilities   (3.6% )   ––   (0.2% )
    Total amount recognised in the statement of total recognised gains and losses:        
               Amount   (1,598 )   69   (2,392 )
               Percentage of the present value of scheme liabilities   (9.0% )   0.5%     (17.7% )
   
           
4   Profit on ordinary activities before tax      
    Profit on ordinary activities before tax is stated after taking account of the following:        
                 
    2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
 
Income   Aggregate amounts receivable under finance leases,      
         hire purchase and conditional sale contracts   1,345   1,161   1,342
  Aggregate amounts receivable under operating leases   1,103   939   811
  Profit on disposal of investment securities   167   172   85
  Share of associated undertakings’ net profit   35   12   2
                 
Expenses   Operating lease rentals of premises   338   321   255
  Operating lease rentals of computers and other equipment   15   13   16
  Finance charges on leased assets   13   8   23
  Interest on subordinated liabilities   681   551   659
  Integration expenditure* relating to:      
         – acquisition of NatWest   ––   143   810
         – other acquisitions   269   86   147
 
       
* Integration expenditure comprises:      
  Staff costs   113   125   530
  Premises and equipment   34   31   127
  Other administrative expenses   120   73   298
  Depreciation   2   ––   2
 
    269   229   957
 
    Auditors’ remuneration    
    Amounts paid to the auditors for statutory audit and other services were as follows:    
         
  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
   
 
    Audit services    
               – Statutory audit   8.2   7.2  
               – Audit related regulatory reporting   1.1   0.6  
   
 
  9.3   7.8  
   
 
    Further assurance services   3.0   5.7  
   
 
    Tax services    
               – Compliance services   0.2   0.1  
               – Advisory services   0.2   0.5  
   
 
  0.4   0.6  
   
 
    Other services   3.0   0.7  
   
 
    Total   15.7   14.8  
 

The auditors’ remuneration for statutory audit work for the company was £0.1 million (2003 – £0.1 million). Non–audit fees paid to the auditors and their associates in the UK was £6.4 million (2003 – £6.2 million).

96






5   Tax on profit on ordinary activities      
  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
   
 
    Current taxation:      
      UK corporation tax charge for the year at 30%   1,305   1,095   909
    Over provision in respect of prior periods   (66 )   (66 )   (13 )
    Relief for overseas taxation   (212 )   (211 )   (26 )
   
 
  1,027   818   870
    Overseas taxation:      
    Current year charge   786   538   370
    Over provision in respect of prior periods   (102 )   (11 )   (2 )
   
 
  1,711   1,345   1,238
      Share of associated undertakings   11   2   2
   
 
      Current tax charge for the year   1,722   1,347   1,240
    Deferred taxation:      
    Origination and reversal of timing differences   482   576   398
    Over provision in respect of prior periods   (49 )   (35 )   (56 )
   
 
    Tax charge for the year   2,155   1,888   1,582
 
     
      The actual tax charge differs from the expected tax charge computed by applying the standard rate of UK corporation tax of 30% as follows:
             
  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		    2002
£m
   
 
    Expected tax charge   2,075   1,823   1,456
    Goodwill amortisation   241   200   183
      Contributions to employee share schemes   (32 )   (35 )   (40 )
    Non-deductible items   227   248   179
    Non-taxable items   (251 )   (207 )   (188 )
      Capital allowances in excess of depreciation   (415 )   (626 )   (340 )
      Taxable foreign exchange movements   (10 )   5   4
    Foreign profits taxed at other rates   49   26   2
      Unutilised losses brought forward and carried forward   6   (15 )   ––
      Current taxation adjustments relating to prior periods   (168 )   (77 )   (15 )
   
 
      Current tax charge for the year   1,722   1,342   1,241
    Deferred taxation:      
      Origination and reversal of timing differences   482   581   397
      Adjustments in respect of prior periods   (49 )   (35 )   (56 )
   
 
    Actual tax charge   2,155   1,888   1,582
 
           
      The following factors may affect future tax charges:      

(1)   No deferred tax is recognised on the unremitted reserves of overseas subsidiary and associated undertakings. A substantial proportion of such reserves are required to be retained by the overseas undertakings to meet local regulatory requirements.
(2)   Deferred tax assets of £110 million (2003 – £127 million) resulting from tax losses carried forward have not been recognised as there is insufficient evidence that the asset will be recoverable. These assets may be recoverable if the losses can be offset against suitable future taxable profits arising in the same tax jurisdiction.
(3)   The fair values of certain financial assets are disclosed in Note 40. The tax that could be payable if these assets were disposed of at the values shown is estimated at £910 million (2003 – £561 million). Because of the nature of these financial assets which are held as part of the banking business, it is not possible to determine the amount that may become payable in the foreseeable future.
(4)   Freehold and long leasehold properties are revalued (see Note 20). No provision has been made for deferred tax on gains recognised on revaluing Group properties except where there is a commitment to sell the asset and any taxable gain will not be subject to rollover relief. The tax that could be payable if these assets were disposed of at their revalued amount is estimated at £129 million (2003 – £109 million), including tax on rolled over gains (see (5) below). No such tax is expected to be payable in the foreseeable future.
(5)   No provision has been made for deferred tax on certain gains realised on disposals of property and other assets as there is an expectation of rolling over such gains into replacement assets. Expenditure to date on valid replacement assets together with forecasts of future such expenditure indicate that these gains will be available for rollover relief. The tax that could be payable if the conditions for rollover relief were not met is estimated at £16 million (2003 – £68 million).

97




Notes on the accounts continued

6 Preference and Additional Value Shares dividends              
                 
        2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01         105   99   141
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of US$0.01           90   100   108
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of €0.01           33   37   32
Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01         4   ––   ––
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.25           ––   ––   1
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.01           15   15   15
11% cumulative preference shares of £1 (1)         ––   ––   ––
5.5% cumulative preference shares of £1 (2)         ––   ––   ––
Appropriation for premium payable on redemption and issue costs   9   10   8
Total preference dividends         256   261   305
Additional Value Shares         ––   1,463   798
Total non-equity dividends         256   1,724   1,103
    Notes:                        
(1 ) Dividends for the year ended 31 December 2004 amounted to £55,000 (2003 and 2002 – £55,000).                      
(2 ) Dividends for the year ended 31 December 2004 amounted to £22,000 (2003 and 2002 – £22,000).                     
               
7 Ordinary dividends            
                       
  2004
p per share 		  2003
p per share 		  2002
p per share 		  2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Interim   16.8   14.6   12.7   529   431   368
Proposed final   41.2   35.7   31.0   1,308   1,059   899
Total dividends on equity shares   58.0   50.3   43.7   1,837   1,490   1,267
                 
8 Profit dealt with in the accounts of the company              
 
Of the profit attributable to shareholders, £2,878 million (2003 – £2,619 million; 2002 – £1,955 million) has been dealt with in the accounts of the company.
             
9 Earnings per ordinary share            
 
The earnings per share are based on the following:
                 
        2004
£m 		  2003
£m 		  2002
£m
Earnings:            
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders         4,256   2,254   2,034
Add back dividends on dilutive convertible non-equity shares           66   ––   ––
Diluted earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders           4,322   2,254   2,034
       
Number of shares – millions
Number of ordinary shares:            
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year   3,085   2,931   2,881
Effect of dilutive share options and convertible non-equity shares   73   22   43
Diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year   3,158   2,953   2,924

98







10   Treasury bills and other eligible bills    
         
    2004
£m 		    2003
£m
 
  Treasury bills and similar securities   5,538   3,917
  Other eligible bills   572   929
 
    6,110   4,846
 
  Banking business   3,189   2,977
  Trading business   2,921   1,869
 
             
  Treasury and other eligible bills are principally of short-term maturity and their market value is not materially different from carrying value.
         
11   Loans and advances to banks    
    2004
£m 		    2003
£m
 
  Repayable on demand   19,430   17,115
  Remaining maturity    
         – three months or less   26,112   25,525
         – one year or less but over three months   11,902   8,357
         – five years or less but over one year   266   422
         – over five years   556   479
 
    58,266   51,898
  Specific bad and doubtful debt provisions   (6 )   (7 )
 
    58,260   51,891
 
  Banking business   22,354   21,358
  Trading business   35,906   30,533
 

99




Notes on the accounts continued

12   Loans and advances to customers          
               
          2004
£m 		    2003
£m
 
  On demand or short notice         51,234   24,847
  Remaining maturity          
         – three months or less         89,784   64,281
         – one year or less but over three months         38,461   27,465
         – five years or less but over one year         53,543   40,908
         – over five years         116,669   98,952
 
          349,691   256,453
  General and specific bad and doubtful debt provisions         (4,222 )   (3,922 )
 
          345,469   252,531
 
  Banking business         283,233   223,456
  Trading business         62,236   29,075
 
  Amounts above include:          
  Subordinated advances         220   73
  Amounts receivable under finance leases         9,968   8,405
  Amounts receivable under hire purchase and conditional sale agreements           6,358   5,935
 
                         
  The cost of assets acquired during the year for the purpose of letting under finance leases and hire purchase agreements was £5,937 million (2003 – £6,361 million).
             
  The Group’s exposure to risk from its lending activities is widely diversified both geographically and industrially. Lending to the services sector, house mortgage lending, loans to financial institutions, other personal loans and lending to property companies exceeded 10% of total loans and advances to customers (before provisions).
             
  Residual value exposures
The table below gives details of the unguaranteed residual values included in the carrying value of finance lease receivables (see above) and operating lease assets (see Note 20).
             
    Year in which the residual value will be recovered
 
  2004   Within
1 year
£m 		        After 1 year
but within
 2 years
£m 		        After 2 years
but within 5 years
£m 		        After
5 years
£m 		                Total
£m
 
  Operating leases          
         Transportation   69   387   1,260   2,603   4,319
         Cars and light commercial vehicles   405   141   117   ––   663
         Other   14   19   65   11   109
  Finance leases   34   33   70   355   492
 
  At 31 December 2004   522   580   1,512   2,969   5,583
 
     
    Year in which the residual value will be recovered
 
  2003   Within
1 year
£m 		        After 1 year
but within
 2 years
£m 		        After 2 years
but within 5 years
£m 		        After
5 years
£m 		                Total
£m
 
  Operating leases          
         Transportation   548   198   481   2,344   3,571
         Cars and light commercial vehicles   313   128   120   ––   561
         Other   11   21   54   96   182
  Finance leases   62   21   85   158   326
 
  At 31 December 2003   934   368   740   2,598   4,640
 


Linked presentation

(i) Leveraged leases – as part of the purchase of Charter One, the Group acquired a portfolio of lease receivables that qualify as leveraged leases under US GAAP. Leveraged leases involve the Group as lessor obtaining non-recourse funding from third parties. This financing is secured on the underlying leases and the provider of the finance has no recourse whatsoever to the other assets of the Group. The Group is not obliged, and does not intend, to support losses that may be suffered by these third-party providers of funding. They have agreed in writing that they will be paid, as to interest and principal, only out of lease cash flows. At 31 December 2004, the gross value of leveraged leases amounted to £1,897 million and non-recourse financing received was £1,502 million. During the year the Group recognised net income of £13 million comprising interest receivable of £35 million less interest payable and other expenses of £22 million.

100







  ii) Mortgage securitisations – following the acquisition of First Active in 2004, the Group is party to a number of mortgage securitisations that qualify for linked presentation. Mortgages have been transferred to special purpose vehicles, held ultimately by charitable trusts, funded principally through the issue of floating rate notes. The Group is not obliged, and does not intend, to support losses that may be suffered by the note holders. There are no arrangements for the Group to repurchase the mortgages. The note holders have agreed that they will be paid, as to interest and principal, only to the extent that sufficient funds are generated by the mortgage loans and their underlying security. The Group has entered into arm's length fixed/floating interest rate swaps with the securitisation vehicles and provides mortgage management and agency services to the vehicles. On repayment of the financing, any further amounts generated by the mortgages will be paid to the Group. At 31 December 2004, mortgages of £1,519 million are subject to non-recourse finance of £1,479 million. During the year the Group recognised net income of £26 million comprising interest receivable of £72 million less interest payable and other expenses of £46 million.
 
 

(iii) Securitisation of housing association loans – the Group has arranged the securitisation of housing association loans. The loans were acquired by special purpose vehicles, held ultimately by charitable trusts, funded principally through the issue of floating and fixed rate notes. The Group is not obliged, and does not intend, to support losses that may be suffered by the note holders. The note holders have agreed that they will be paid, as to interest and principal, only to the extent that sufficient funds are generated by the loans and their underlying security. Any proceeds from the loans in excess of the amounts required to service and repay the notes are payable to the Group after deduction of expenses. At 31 December 2004, gross loans amounted to £1,412 million (2003 – £1,450 million) and notes held by third parties were £1,012 million (2003 – £861 million).
 
  During the year the Group recognised net income of £37 million (2003 – £39 million; 2002 – £40 million) comprising interest receivable of £116 million (2003 – £119 million; 2002 – £118 million) less interest payable and other expenses of £79 million (2003 – £80 million; 2002 – £78 million).
 
  (iv) Mortgage banking activities - the Group sells originated mortgage loans to US Agencies in return for securities backed by these loans and guaranteed by the Agency whilst retaining the rights to service the mortgages. These securities may be subsequently sold. The purchaser has recourse to the Group for losses up to pre-determined levels on certain designated mortgages. The Group is not obliged, and does not intend, to support losses that may be suffered by the Agencies. Under the terms of the sale agreements, the Agencies have agreed to seek repayment only from the cash from the mortgage loans. Once the securities exchanged for the loans have been sold the Group's exposure is restricted to the amount of the recourse and the transaction qualifies for the linked presentation. At 31 December 2004 mortgages amounting to £472 million had been sold with recourse and the related securities sold. Recourse is limited to a maximum of £6 million. No amounts were recognised in the profit and loss account except for income from the servicing of the mortgages.
 
  (v) Loan transfer – during 2004, loans originated by the Group and another bank were transferred to a special purpose vehicle which funded the purchase through the issue of notes. The Group is not obliged, and does not intend, to support losses that may be suffered by the note holders. There are no arrangements for the Group to repurchase the loan. The note holders have agreed that they will be paid, as to interest and principal, only to the extent that sufficient funds are generated by the loans. At 31 December 2004, the gross loan amounted to £301 million and the non-recourse financing of £301 million. Gross and net income in 2004 were less than £1 million.
 
13   Provisions for bad and doubtful debts
                         
    Specific
£m 		    General
£m 		    2004
Total
£m 		    Specific
£m 		    General
£m 		    2003
Total
£m
  At 1 January   3,363   566   3,929   3,330   597   3,927
  Currency translation and other adjustments   (22 )   (76 )   (98 )   (23 )   (39 )   (62 )
  Acquisition of subsidiary   222   68   290   44   6   50
  Amounts written off   (1,468 )   ––   (1,468 )   (1,519 )   ––   (1,519 )
  Recoveries of amounts written off in previous periods   147   ––   147   72   ––   72
  Charge to profit and loss account   1,412   16   1,428   1,459   2   1,461
  At 31 December   3,654   574   4,228   3,363   566   3,929
 
14   Interest in suspense            
   
  In certain cases, interest may be charged to a customer’s account but, because its recoverability is in doubt, not recognised in the Group’s consolidated profit and loss account. Such interest is held in a suspense account and netted off against loans and advances in the consolidated balance sheet.
            2004
£m 		    2003
£m
 
  Loans and advances on which interest is being placed in suspense:    
         – before specific provisions           2,558   1,938
         – after specific provisions           1,203   930
  Loans and advances on which interest is not being applied:    
         – before specific provisions           2,225   2,494
         – after specific provisions           850   980
 

101






Notes on the accounts continued

15   Debt securities                
    2004
Book value
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
gains
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
losses
£m 		    2004
Valuation
£m 		  2003
Book value
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
gains
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
losses
£m 		    2003
Valuation
£m
  Investment securities:                
  UK government   760   2   (22 )   740   1,516   1   (5 )   1,512
  Other government   14,138   85   (44 )   14,179   12,442   101   (105 )   12,438
  Other public sector bodies   309   1   ––   310   422   4   ––   426
  Bank and building society   9,319   3   (4 )   9,318   11,690   4   (7 )   11,687
  Other issuers   10,537   78   (285 )   10,330   15,464   130   (302 )   15,292
    35,063   169   (355 )   34,877   41,534   240   (419 )   41,355
  Other debt securities:                
  UK government   1,502       1,502   1,246       1,246
  Other government   12,457       12,457   10,819       10,819
  Other public sector bodies   37       37   36       36
  Bank and building society   604       604   407       407
  Other issuers   41,548       41,548   25,907       25,907
    56,148       56,148   38,415       38,415
    91,211       91,025   79,949       79,770
                       
  Due within one year   18,060         16,943      
  Due one year and over   73,151         63,006      
    91,211         79,949      
                   
  Investment securities:                
  Listed   25,201       25,198   33,067       33,001
  Unlisted   9,862       9,679   8,467       8,354
    35,063       34,877   41,534       41,355
  Other debt securities:                
  Listed   28,714       28,714   16,307       16,307
  Unlisted   27,434       27,434   22,108       22,108
    91,211       91,025   79,949       79,770
                       
  Banking business   36,485         42,374      
  Trading business   54,726         37,575      
  Amounts above include:                
  Subordinated debt securities   664         890      
  Unamortised discounts less premiums                  
            on investment securities   1         3      
             
The cost of securities carried at market value is not disclosed because it cannot be determined without unreasonable expense.
             
Movements in debt securities which are held as investment securities were as follows:
             
 
Cost
£m 		    Discounts and
premiums
£m 		    Provisions
£m 		    Book value
£m
   
 
    At 1 January 2004   41,440   216   (122 )   41,534
    Currency translation and other adjustments   (1,610 )   (18 )   2   (1,626 )
    Additions   41,217   ––   ––   41,217
    Acquisition of subsidiaries   4,013   (6 )   ––   4,007
    Maturities and disposals   (42,529 )   (48 )   10   (42,567 )
    Provisions made net of write backs   ––   ––   (71 )   (71 )
    Transfers to other debt securities   (7,429 )   6   1   (7,422 )
    Amortisation of discounts and premiums   ––   (9 )   ––   (9 )
    Amounts written off   (16 )   ––   16   ––
   
 
    At 31 December 2004   35,086   141   (164 )   35,063
 

102





The following table categorises the Group’s investment debt securities by maturity and yield (based on weighted averages) at 31 December 2004:
                   
  Within   1 year   After 1 but
within 5 years   		   After 5 but
within 10 years   		   After 10 years      Total   
       
 
 
 
 
  Amount
£m 		  Yield
% 		  Amount
£m 		  Yield
% 		  Amount
£m 		  Yield
% 		  Amount
£m 		  Yield
% 		  Amount
£m 		  Yield
%
   
    UK government   61   8.2   489   5.9   184   5.7   26   2.5   760   5.9
    US treasury and other US government   254   1.4   326   2.2   944   2.6   11,185   3.0   12,709   3.0
    Other government   442   1.7   617   3.9   314   3.8   4   5.7   1,377   3.2
    Securities issued by the states of the US   ––   ––   18   4.9   16   4.1   18   3.4   52   4.1
    Other public sector bodies   99   1.0   8   4.6   202   2.0   ––   ––   309   1.7
    Corporate debt securities   750   3.5   982   3.8   227   4.0   224   4.9   2,183   3.8
    Mortgage-backed securities   12   2.5   211   7.0   1,168   3.4   3,473   4.1   4,864   4.1
    Bank and building society   8,158   5.2   1,089   3.4   44   5.0   28   5.3   9,319   5.0
    Other   1,768   4.0   1,421   5.4   221   2.5   80   2.1   3,490   4.5
   
    Total book value   11,544   4.6   5,161   4.4   3,320   3.2   15,038   3.3   35,063   3.9
    Total fair value   11,297     5,201     3,288     15,091     34,877  
                   
  Gross gains of £101 million (2003 – £158 million) and gross losses of £30 million (2003 – £47 million) were realised on the sale and redemption of investment debt securities.
                       
16 Equity shares                    
  2004
Book value
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
gains
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
losses
£m 		    2004
Valuation
£m 		  2003
Book value
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
gains
£m 		  Gross
unrecognised
losses
£m 		    2003
Valuation
£m
   
    Investment securities:                
    Listed   1,213   356   (78 )   1,491   1,157   350   (88 )   1,419
    Unlisted   1,227   169   (5 )   1,391   664   174   (19 )   819
   
  2,440   525   (83 )   2,882   1,821   524   (107 )   2,238
    Other securities:                
    Listed   519   ––   ––   519   465   ––   ––   465
    Unlisted   1   ––   ––   1   14   ––   ––   14
   
  2,960   525   (83 )   3,402   2,300   524   (107 )   2,717
    Banking business   2,474         1,872      
    Trading business   486         428      
   
                                         
    The cost of securities carried at market value is not disclosed because it cannot be determined without unreasonable expense.
                                         
    Movements in equity shares which are held as investment securities were as follows:
                                         
           
  Cost
£m 		    Provisions
£m 		    Book value
£m
   
 
    At 1 January 2004   1,940   (119 )   1,821
    Currency translation and other adjustments   (61 )   5   (56 )
    Additions   573   ––   573
    Acquisition of subsidiaries   381   ––   381
    Disposals   (288 )   ––   (288 )
    Amounts written off   (10 )   10   ––
    Provisions made net of write backs   ––   (12 )   (12 )
    Transfers   21   ––   21
   
 
    At 31 December 2004   2,556   (116 )   2,440
           
Gross gains of £96 million (2003 – £68 million) and gross losses of nil (2003 – £7 million) were realised on the sale of investment equity shares.

103






Notes on the accounts continued

17   Shares in Group undertakings  
       
  Movements in shares in Group undertakings during the year were as follows:    
    £m
 
  At 1 January 2004   32,354
  Currency translation adjustments   (399 )
  Additions   6,802
  Revaluation   (1,887 )
 
  At 31 December 2004   36,870
 
        On the historical cost basis, shares in Group undertakings at 31 December 2004 would have been included at a cost of £22,301 million (2003 – £15,499 million).
     
    The principal subsidiary undertakings of the company are shown below. Their capital consists of ordinary and preference shares which are unlisted with the exception of certain preference shares issued by NatWest. The Royal Bank and RBS Insurance Group Limited are directly owned by the company, and all of the other subsidiary undertakings are owned directly, or indirectly through intermediate holding companies, by these companies and are all wholly-owned. All of these subsidiaries are included in the Group’s consolidated financial statements and have an accounting reference date of 31 December.

  Nature of
business 		  Country of
incorporation
and principal
area of operation
   
    The Royal Bank of Scotland plc   Banking   Great Britain
    National Westminster Bank Plc (1)   Banking   Great Britain
    Citizens Financial Group, Inc.   Banking   US
    Coutts & Co (2)   Private banking   Great Britain
    Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.   Broker dealer   US
    RBS Insurance Group Limited   Insurance   Great Britain
    Ulster Bank Limited (3)   Banking   Northern Ireland
   
         
    Notes:
(1)     The company does not hold any of the NatWest preference shares in issue.
(2)    Coutts & Co is incorporated with unlimited liability. Its registered office is 440 Strand, London WC2R 0Q5.
(3)    Ulster Bank Limited and its subsidiary undertakings also operate in the Republic of Ireland.
     
    The above information is provided in relation to the principal related undertakings as permitted by Section 231(5) of the Companies Act 1985. Full information on all related undertakings will be included in the Annual Return filed with the UK Companies House.

 

104






18   Loans to Group undertakings  
       
  Movements during the year:   £m
 
  At 1 January 2004   4,554
  Currency translation and other adjustments   (216 )
  Additions   350
  Repayments   (587 )
 
  At 31 December 2004   4,101
 
19   Intangible fixed assets  
       
  Goodwill   £m
 
  Cost:  
  At 1 January 2004   15,758
  Currency translation and other adjustments   (558 )
  Arising on acquisitions during the year   5,899
  Disposals   (20 )
 
  At 31 December 2004   21,079
 
  Amortisation:  
  At 1 January 2004   2,627
  Currency translation and other adjustments   (35 )
  Charge for the year   915
  Disposals   (4 )
 
  At 31 December 2004   3,503
 
  Net book value at 31 December 2004   17,576
 
  Net book value at 31 December 2003   13,131
 

105






Notes on the accounts continued

20   Tangible fixed assets                        
        Freehold
premises
£m 		    Long
leasehold
premises
£m 		    Short
leasehold
premises
£m 		    Computers
and other
equipment
£m 		    Assets on
operating
leases
£m 		    Total
£m 		 
   
    Cost or valuation:            
    At 1 January 2004   5,217   1,346   655   2,911   7,548   17,677
    Currency translation and other adjustments   (18 )   ––   (10 )   (41 )   (185 )   (254 )
    Reclassifications   1   (5 )   (5 )   9   ––   ––
    Acquisition of subsidiaries   152   32   41   133   487   845
    Additions   589   21   212   691   2,841   4,354
    Disposals and write-off of fully depreciated assets   (302 )   (21 )   (48 )   (136 )   (1,352 )   (1,859 )
    Revaluation adjustments   16   2   ––   ––   ––   18
   
    At 31 December 2004   5,655   1,375   845   3,567   9,339   20,781
       
    Consisting of:            
    At valuation – 2004   2,754   1,129   ––   ––   ––   3,883
    At valuation – 2003 and prior   821   134   ––   ––   ––   955
    At cost   2,080   112   845   3,567   9,339   15,943
   
  5,655   1,375   845   3,567   9,339   20,781
       
    Accumulated depreciation and amortisation:            
    At 1 January 2004   407   94   250   1,805   1,194   3,750
    Currency translation and other adjustments   (1 )   3   (3 )   (17 )   (29 )   (47 )
    Reclassifications   ––   ––   (2 )   2   ––   ––
    Acquisition of subsidiaries   ––   5   ––   14   28   47
    Disposals and write-off of fully depreciated assets   (19 )   (2 )   (4 )   (56 )   (251 )   (332 )
    Charge for the year   60   11   42   355   639   1,107
    Revaluation adjustments   (19 )   (19 )   ––   ––   ––   (38 )
   
    At 31 December 2004   428   92   283   2,103   1,581   4,487
       
    Net book value at 31 December 2004   5,227   1,283   562   1,464   7,758   16,294
       
    Net book value at 31 December 2003   4,810   1,252   405   1,106   6,354   13,927
       

    On the historical cost basis, the Group’s freehold and long leasehold premises would have been included at £6,249 million (2003 – £5,886 million).
     
    Freehold and long leasehold properties are revalued on a rolling basis, each property being valued at least every five years. Interim valuations outwith the five year cycle are carried out on properties where there is an indication that their value has changed significantly, given market conditions. The directors are not aware of any material change in the valuation of the Group’s properties and therefore no additional interim valuations were required.
     
    Properties occupied by the Group are valued on the basis of Existing Use Value, except for certain specialised properties which are valued on a Depreciated Replacement Cost basis. Investment properties and properties to be disposed of are valued to reflect Open Market Value. Valuations are carried out by internal and external qualified surveyors who are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or, in the case of some overseas properties, locally qualified valuers.

    Net book value:   2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
   
    Land and buildings occupied for own use   2,768     2,391  
    Investment properties   3,715     3,628  
    Properties under development   570     429  
    Properties to be disposed of   19     19  
   
  7,072     6,467  
                 
    Net book value of assets held under finance leases   18     90  
                 
    Depreciation for the year of assets held under finance leases   2     20  
    Contracts for future capital expenditure not provided for in the accounts at the year end      
   
    Premises and equipment   406     104  
    Assets on operating leases   196     498  
   
  602     602  

106






21   Other assets    
        2004
£m 		    2003*
£m 		 
  Trading derivatives (see Note 39)   17,884   14,087
  Other   4,371   3,720
    22,255   17,807
  *restated (see page 85)    
       
       
22   Long-term assurance business    
       
  The long-term assurance assets and liabilities attributable to policyholders comprise:    
        2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
  Investments   4,309   4,005
  Value of in-force policies   418   413
    4,727   4,418
  Long-term assurance business attributable to shareholders*   (927 )   (861 )
    3,800   3,557
  The increase in the shareholders’ interest in the long-term assurance business included in the profit and loss account is calculated
  as follows:    
        2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
  Increase in value for the year before tax   94   73
  Tax   (28 )   (22 )
  Increase in value for the year after tax   66   51
               
  * The value of the long-term assurance business is calculated by discounting estimated future flows of statutory profits from in-force business at a discount rate that includes a risk margin. The future flows are based on prudent assumptions about long-term economic and business experience determined with the advice of qualified actuaries. The risk margin is designed to reflect uncertainties in expected future flows.
       
  The key assumptions used are:    
        2004
% 		    2003
% 		 
  Risk discount rate (net of tax)   8.0   8.5
  Growth of unit-linked funds (gross of tax)   6.9   6.7
  Growth of non-unit-linked funds (gross of tax)   4.7   5.0
  Basic tax rate   20.0   20.0
  Shareholder taxation – life   30.0   30.0
  Expense inflation   3.5   3.5
         
23   Deposits by banks    
        2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
  Repayable on demand   30,279   20,995
  With agreed maturity dates or periods of notice, by remaining maturity    
         – three months or less   53,296   42,300
         – one year or less but over three months   10,474   2,268
         – five years or less but over one year   3,675   122
         – over five years   1,357   1,638
    99,081   67,323
  Banking business   59,399   41,061
  Trading business   39,682   26,262

107






Notes on the accounts continued

24   Customer accounts    
         
    2004
£m 		  2003
£m
  Repayable on demand   193,988   160,574
  With agreed maturity dates or periods of notice, by remaining maturity      
     – three months or less   66,542   64,797
     – one year or less but over three months   15,502   7,608
     – five years or less but over one year   7,803   3,288
     – over five years   1,227   696
    285,062   236,963
  Banking business   243,929   210,925
  Trading business   41,133   26,038
         
25   Debt securities in issue    
         
    2004
£m 		  2003
£m
  Bonds and medium term notes, by remaining maturity      
     – one year or less   7,736   2,227
     – two years or less but over one year   3,034   1,063
     – five years or less but over two years   3,606   3,614
     – over five years   1,328   3,525
    15,704   10,429
  Other debt securities in issue, by remaining maturity      
     – three months or less   31,849   23,414
     – one year or less but over three months   9,786   6,188
     – two years or less but over one year   1,598   977
     – five years or less but over two years   23   8
    43,256   30,587
    58,960   41,016
  Banking business   57,200   39,899
  Trading business   1,760   1,117
         
26   Settlement balances and short positions    
         
    2004
£m 		  2003
£m
  Settlement balances   4,067   2,241
  Short positions:    
         Debt securities – Government   24,619   16,631
         Debt securities – Other issuers   4,002   2,423
  Treasury bills and other eligible bills   302   74
    32,990   21,369
27   Other liabilities    
         
    2004
£m 		  2003
£m
  Notes in circulation   1,351   1,394
  Trading derivatives (see Note 39)   19,034   15,173
  Current taxation   677   700
  Dividends   1,357   1,105
  Other liabilities   3,733   2,212
    26,152   20,584

108





28   Deferred taxation                        
                             
    Provision for deferred taxation has been made as follows:                        
                    2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
    Deferred tax liability               2,873     2,036  
    Deferred tax asset (included in Note 21, Other assets)               (47 )   (48 )
    Net deferred tax               2,826     1,988  
                    2004     2003  
                    £m     £m  
    Short-term timing differences               (56 )   (49 )
    Capital allowances               3,248     2,440  
    Bad and doubtful debt provisions               (399 )   (441 )
    Deferred gains               33     38  
    Net deferred tax               2,826     1,988  
    Movements during the year:               £m        
     
    As previously reported               2,238        
    Prior year adjustment arising on implementation of FRS 17               (250 )      
     
    At 1 January 2004 as restated               1,988        
    Currency translation and other adjustments               (66 )      
    Acquisition of subsidiaries               514        
    Disposal of lease receivables               (43 )      
    Charge to profit and loss account               433        
     
    At 31 December 2004               2,826        
    The deferred taxation balance at 31 December 2004 does not include any amounts in respect of the Group’s post-retirement benefit liabilities which is shown on the balance sheet after deduction of a deferred taxation asset of £995 million (2003 – £566 million)(see Note 3). The opening provision for deferred taxation has been restated following implementation of FRS 17 (see page 85).  
                             
29   Other provisions                        
        Property(1)
£m 		  Pensions and
other similar
obligations
£m 		    Other(2)
£m 		    Total
£m 		 
    As previously reported   179     43     34     256  
    Prior year adjustment arising on implementation of FRS 17   ––     (43 )   ––     (43 )
    At 1 January 2004 as restated   179     ––     34     213  
    Acquisition of subsidiaries   ––     ––     12     12  
    Charge to profit and loss account   18     ––     2     20  
    Provisions utilised   (33 )   ––     (14 )   (47 )
    At 31 December 2004   164     ––     34     198  
   

  Notes:
(1)      The Group has a number of leasehold properties where rents payable and other unavoidable costs exceed the value to the Group. Such costs arise over the period of the lease or to the expected termination date, and the provision has been discounted due to the long-term nature of certain of these obligations.
(2)      Other provisions arise in the normal course of business.
   

109






Notes on the accounts continued

30   Dated loan capital    
    2004
£m 		    2003
£m
  The company    
  £200 million floating rate (minimum 5.25%) notes 2005 (1,2)   40   80
  US$400 million 6.4% subordinated notes 2009 (1)   206   223
  US$300 million 6.375% subordinated notes 2011 (1)   154   166
  US$750 million 5% subordinated notes 2013   385   416
  US$750 million 5% subordinated notes 2014 (1)   385   417
  US$250 million 5% subordinated notes 2014 (1)   127   137
  US$675 million 5.05% subordinated notes 2015 (issued December 2004) (3)   347   ––
  US$350 million 4.7% subordinated notes 2018 (1)   180   195
    1,824 *   1,634 *
  The Royal Bank of Scotland plc    
  £125 million subordinated floating rate notes 2005 (4)   125   125
  £150 million 8.375% subordinated notes 2007   150   149
  DEM500 million (redesignated €255 million) 5.25% subordinated notes 2008   180   180
  €300 million 4.875% subordinated notes 2009   211   211
  US$150 million floating rate notes 2009 (5)   ––   84
  £35 million floating rate step-up subordinated notes 2010   35   35
  US$350 million floating rate subordinated notes 2012   181   196
  €130 million floating rate subordinated notes 2012   92   92
  US$500 million floating rate subordinated notes 2012   258   280
  £150 million 10.5% subordinated bonds 2013 (6)   150   149
  €1,000 million 6.0% subordinated notes 2013   699   700
  €500 million 6.0% subordinated notes 2013   360   362
  US$50 million floating rate subordinated notes 2013   26   28
  €1,000 million floating rate subordinated notes 2013 (callable October 2008)   704   705
  US$1,250 million floating rate subordinated notes 2014 (issued May 2004; callable July 2009) (7)   646   ––
  A$590 million 6.0% subordinated notes 2014 (issued October 2004; callable October 2009) (8)   238   ––
  A$410 million floating rate subordinated notes 2014 (issued October 2004; callable October 2009) (9)   165   ––
  £250 million 9.625% subordinated bonds 2015   248   248
  €750 million 4.875% subordinated notes 2015   528   529
  US$500 million floating rate subordinated notes 2016 (issued October 2004; callable October 2011) (10)   258   ––
  €500 million 4.5% subordinated notes 2016 (callable January 2011)   351   351
  €100 million floating rate subordinated notes 2017   71   70
  US$125.6 million floating rate subordinated notes 2020   65   70
  €1,000 million 4.625% subordinated notes 2021 (issued September 2004; callable September 2016) (11)   695   ––
       
  RBSG Capital Corporation    
  US$250 million 10.125% guaranteed capital notes 2004 (12)   ––   140
       
  National Westminster Bank Plc    
  £100 million 12.5% subordinated unsecured loan stock 2004 (13)   ––   104
  US$400 million guaranteed floating rate capital notes 2005   206   223
  US$1,000 million 7.375% subordinated notes 2009   513   553
  US$650 million floating rate subordinated step-up notes 2009 (14)   ––   366
  €600 million 6.0% subordinated notes 2010   420   419
  £300 million 8.125% step-up subordinated notes 2011 (callable December 2006)   301   303
  €500 million 5.125% subordinated notes 2011   346   341
  £300 million 7.875% subordinated notes 2015   304   309
  £300 million 6.5% subordinated notes 2021   296   297
       
  Greenwich Capital Holdings, Inc.    
  US$105 million subordinated loan capital 2004 floating rate notes   ––   59
  US$105 million subordinated loan capital 2006 floating rate notes   54   ––
       
  Charter One Financial, Inc. (15)    
  US$400 million 6.375% subordinated notes 2012   226   ––
       
  First Active plc (16)    
  US$35 million 7.24% subordinated bonds 2012 (callable December 2007)   22   ––
  £60 million 6.375% subordinated bonds 2018 (callable April 2013)   65   ––
    11,013   9,312

110






        2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
   
    Dated loan capital in issue, by remaining maturity is repayable as follows:        
           – in one year or less   371     709  
           – in two years or less but over one year   355     388  
           – in five years or less but over two years   3,035     1,337  
           – in more than five years   7,252     6,878  
   
  11,013     9,312  

* In addition, the company issued 1.25 million subordinated loan notes of €1,000 each in June 2002, 750,000 subordinated loan notes of US$1,000 each in December 2002, 850,000 subordinated loan notes of US$1,000 each in May 2003, 650,000 subordinated loan notes of US$1,000 each in December 2003, 1.5 million subordinated loan notes of US$1,000 each in August 2004 and 450,000 subordinated loan notes of US$1,000 each in September 2004 to subsidiaries of the Group. These loan notes are included in the company balance sheet within loan capital but are reclassified as non-equity minority interests on consolidation (see Note 32).
   
  Notes:
(1) On-lent to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc on a subordinated basis.
(2) Repayable in five equal annual instalments in May in each of the years 2001 to 2005.
(3) Net proceeds received US$672 million, £349 million.
(4) Repayable in whole, at the option of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, prior to maturity, on conditions governing the respective debt obligation, including prior approval of the UK Financial Services Authority.
(5) Redeemed in October 2004.
(6) Unconditionally guaranteed by the company.
(7) Net proceeds received US$1,250 million, £698 million.
(8) Net proceeds received A$589 million, £240 million.
(9) Net proceeds received A$409 million, £167 million.
(10) Net proceeds received US$500 million, £278 million.
(11) Net proceeds received €986 million, £673 million.
(12) Redeemed in March 2004.
(13) Redeemed in July 2004.
(14) Redeemed in October 2004.
(15) Arising from acquisition of Charter One.
(16) Arising from acquisition of First Active.
(17) In the event of certain changes in the tax laws of the UK, all of the dated loan capital issues are redeemable in whole, but not in part, at the option of the issuer, at the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, subject to prior approval of the UK Financial Services Authority.
(18) Except as stated above, claims in respect of the Group’s dated loan capital are subordinated to the claims of other creditors. None of the Group’s dated loan capital is secured.
(19) Interest payable on the Group’s floating rate dated issues is at a margin over London interbank rates. Interest on £1,450 million, US$4,425 million, €5,405 million and A$590 million of fixed rate dated issues is swapped into floating rates at a margin over London interbank rates.

111






Notes on the accounts continued
31   Undated loan capital including convertible debt            
    2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
  The company      
  US$350 million undated floating rate primary capital notes (callable on any interest payment date) (1,2)   181     196  
  US$200 million 8.5% exchangeable capital securities, Series A (callable June 2004) (1,3)   103     112  
  US$50 million undated 7.993% capital securities (callable November 2005) (1)   26     28  
  US$35 million undated 7.755% capital securities (callable December 2005) (1)   18     19  
  US$200 million undated 7.375% reset capital securities (callable April 2006) (1)   103     112  
  US$75 million floating rate perpetual capital securities (callable September 2007) (1)   39     42  
  US$850 million 5.75% exchangeable capital securities, Series B (4)   ––     464  
  US$1,200 million 7.648% perpetual regulatory tier one securities (callable September 2031) (1,5)   615     666  
    1,085     1,639  
  The Royal Bank of Scotland plc      
  £125 million 9.25% undated subordinated step-up notes (callable April 2006)   125     125  
  £150 million undated subordinated floating rate step-up notes (callable March 2007)   150     150  
  FRF1,000 million (redesignated €152 million) 5.875% undated subordinated notes (callable October 2008)   107     107  
  £175 million 7.375% undated subordinated notes (callable August 2010)   174     173  
  £350 million 6.25% undated subordinated notes (callable December 2012)   348     348  
  €500 million 5.125% subordinated notes (issued July 2004; callable July 2014) (6)   350     ––  
  €1,000 million floating rate subordinated notes (issued July 2004; callable July 2014) (7)   701     ––  
  £500 million 6.0% subordinated notes (issued June 2004; callable September 2014) (8)   496     ––  
  £500 million 5.125% undated subordinated notes (callable March 2016)   491     491  
  £200 million 9.5% undated subordinated bonds (callable August 2018) (9)   198     198  
  £600 million 5.5% subordinated notes (issued December 2004; callable December 2019) (10)   595     ––  
  £500 million 6.2% undated subordinated notes (callable March 2022)   497     497  
  £300 million 5.625% undated subordinated notes (callable September 2026)   298     298  
  £200 million 5.625% undated subordinated notes (callable September 2026)   210     211  
  £400 million 5.625% undated subordinated notes (callable September 2026)   397     396  
  £350 million 5.625% undated subordinated notes (callable June 2032)   346     346  
  £150 million 5.625% undated subordinated notes (callable June 2032)   144     144  
  JPY25 billion 2.605% subordinated notes (issued November 2004; callable November 2034) (11)   126     ––  
         
  National Westminster Bank Plc      
  US$500 million primary capital floating rate notes, Series A (callable on any interest payment date)   258     280  
  US$500 million primary capital floating rate notes, Series B (callable on any interest payment date)   258     280  
  US$500 million primary capital floating rate notes, Series C (callable on any interest payment date)   258     280  
  US$500 million 7.875% exchangeable capital securities (callable on any interest payment date) (12)   258     280  
  US$500 million 7.75% reset subordinated notes (callable October 2007)   255     275  
  €100 million floating rate undated subordinated step-up notes (callable October 2009)   71     70  
  €400 million 6.625% fixed/floating rate undated subordinated notes (callable October 2009)   280     280  
  £325 million 7.625% undated subordinated step-up notes (callable January 2010)   329     330  
  £200 million 7.125% undated subordinated step-up notes (callable October 2022)   203     203  
  £200 million 11.5% undated subordinated notes (callable December 2022) (13)   281     285  
         
  First Active plc (14)      
  £20 million 11.75% perpetual tier two capital   24     ––  
  IR£30 million 11.375% perpetual tier two capital   38     ––  
  £1.3 million floating rate perpetual tier two capital   2     ––  
    9,353     7,686  

  Notes:
(1) On-lent to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc on a subordinated basis.
(2) Interest is payable at a rate of 0.25% per annum over an average calculated by reference to six month euro dollar deposits in London for each interest period.
(3) Redeemable in certain circumstances related to changes in the tax laws of the UK, in whole or in part, at the option of the company on any interest payment date. Exchangeable, in whole or in part, at the option of the company on any interest payment date, or in certain circumstances related to changes in the tax laws of the UK, in whole but not in part, into the company’s non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01 each.
(4) Exchanged for 34 million non-cumulative dollar preference shares of US0.01, Series L on 30 September 2004.
(5) Redeemable by the company on or after 30 September 2031 or on any interest payment date thereafter or at any time on the occurrence of certain events, subject to the prior approval of the UK Financial Services Authority. Interest on the PROs is payable semi-annually in arrears at a fixed rate of 7.648% per annum until 30 September 2031 and thereafter quarterly in arrears at a variable rate of 2.5% per annum above three month dollar LIBOR. The company can satisfy interest payment obligations by issuing ordinary shares to appointed Trustees sufficient to enable them, on selling these shares, to settle the interest payment.
(6) Net proceeds received €496 million, £334 million.
(7) Net proceeds received €994 million, £668 million.
(8) Net proceeds received £495 million.
(9) Guaranteed by the company.
(10) Net proceeds received £595 million.
(11) Net proceeds received JPY25 billion, £127 million.
(12) Exchangeable at the option of the issuer into 20 million 8.75% (gross) non-cumulative preference shares of US$25 each of National Westminster Bank Plc at any time.
(13) Exchangeable at the option of the issuer into 200 million 8.392% (gross) non-cumulative preference shares of £1 each of National Westminster Bank Plc at any time.
(14) Arising from acquisition of First Active.
(15) Except as stated above, claims in respect of the Group's undated loan capital are subordinated to the claims of other creditors. None of the Group's undated loan capital is secured.
(16) Except as stated above, interest payable on Group floating rate undated issues is at a margin over London interbank rates. Interest on £4,875 million, US$1,668 million, €1,052 million and JPY25 billion of fixed rate undated issues is swapped into floating rates at a margin over London interbank rates.
(17) Where the issuer has the ability to redeem the undated loan capital, this is subject to prior approval of the UK Financial Services Authority.

112







32   Minority interests – non-equity    
  2004
£m 		    2003
£m 		 
  Non-equity shares issued by NatWest:    
  Non-cumulative preference shares of US$25 (1)   278     299  
  Non-cumulative preference shares of £1 (2) 166     166  
  444     465  
  Non-equity shares issued by other subsidiaries:    
  Non-cumulative trust preferred securities of €1,000 (3)   875     875  
  Non-cumulative trust preferred securities of US$1,000 (3)   2,152     1,245  
  Other non-equity minority interests 200     139  
  Total 3,671     2,724  

  Notes:
(1) The US$250 million non-cumulative preference shares, Series B, of US$25 each carry a gross dividend of 8.75% inclusive of associated tax credit. They are redeemable at the option of NatWest at US$25 per share.

The US$300 million non-cumulative preference shares, Series C, of US$25 each carry a gross dividend of 8.625% inclusive of associated tax credit. They are redeemable at the option of NatWest from 9 April 2002 to 8 April 2008 inclusive, at a premium per share of US$0.60 in 2005 reducing by US$0.30 in each successive year. There is no redemption premium if the date of redemption falls after 8 April 2007.
(2) The £140 million 9% non-cumulative preference shares, Series A, of £1 each are non-redeemable.
(3) Wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Group have issued the following non-cumulative trust preferred securities:
   

    Issue   Number
of securities
in issue 		 

Distribution
rate per
 annum

    Distribution
frequency 		  Redemption date
on or after 		  Redemption
price per
security
   
    Trust preferred securities of €1.000   1,250,000   6,467 %   Annually   30 June 2012   €1,000
    Trust preferred securities of US$1.000   750,000   6.8 %   Quarterly   31 March 2008   US$1,000
    Trust preferred securities of US$1.000   850,000   4.709 %   Semi-annually   1 July 2013   US$1,000
    Trust preferred securities of US$1.000   650,000   6.425 %   Semi-annually   3 January 2034   US$1,000
    Trust preferred securities of US$1.000*   950,000   5.512 %   Semi-annually   30 September 2014   US$1,000
    Trust preferred securities of US$1.000*   1,000,000   0.80% above   Quarterly   30 September 2014   US$1,000
            three month
US$ LIBOR 		             
   
                           
    These securities have no maturity date and are not redeemable at the option of the holders at any time. The securities may, with the consent of the FSA, be redeemed, in whole or in part, by the issuer on the dates specified above or on any interest payment date thereafter. They may also be redeemed in whole, but not in part, upon the occurrence of certain tax and regulatory events.
     
  * issued in 2004, net proceeds received US$941 million (£523 million) and US$994 (£552 million), respectively.
(4)   Minority interests in the consolidated profit and loss account includes £138 million (2003 – £127 million; 2002 – £67 million) in respect of non-equity interests.

                       
33 Share capital                    
  Allotted, called up and fully paid           Authorised    
 
 
  1 January
2004
£m 		  Issued during
the year
£m 		  31 December
2004
£m 		  31 December
2004
£m 		  31 December
2003
£m
Equity shares          
Ordinary shares of 25p   740   53   793   1,020   1,020
Non-voting deferred shares of £0.01   27   ––   27   323   323
Total equity share capital   767   53   820   1,343   1,343
           
Non-equity shares          
Additional Value Shares of £0.01   ––   ––   ––   27   27
Non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01   1   ––   1   2   2
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of US$0.01   ––   ––   ––   ––   ––
Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01   ––   ––   ––   ––   ––
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of €0.01   ––   ––   ––   ––   ––
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.25   ––   ––   ––   225   225
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.01   ––   ––   ––   ––   ––
Cumulative preference shares of £1   1   ––   1   1   1
Non-cumulative preference shares of £1   ––   ––   ––   300   300
Total non-equity share capital   2   ––   2   555   555
Total share capital   769   53   822   1,898   1,898
   

113






Notes on the accounts continued
33   Share capital (continued)        
    Allotted, called up and fully paid   Authorised
   
 
  Number of shares – thousands   2004   2003   2004   2003
  Equity shares        
  Ordinary shares of 25p   3,172,605   2,963,335   4,079,375   4,079,375
  Non-voting deferred shares of £0.01   2,660,556   2,660,556   32,300,000   32,300,000
           
  Non-equity shares        
  Additional Value Shares of £0.01   ––   ––   2,700,000   2,700,000
  Non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01   153,000   82,000   348,500   238,500
  Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of US$0.01   1,900   1,900   3,900   3,900
  Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01   1,250   ––   66,000   66,000
  Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of €0.01   750   750   3,000   3,000
  Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.25   ––   ––   900,000   900,000
  Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.01   200   200   1,000   1,000
  Cumulative preference shares of £1   900   900   900   900
  Non-cumulative preference shares of £1   ––   ––   300,000   300,000
     
    Ordinary shares
       
    The following issues of ordinary shares were made during the year to 31 December 2004:
       
    (a) 165 million ordinary shares were placed at an issue price of £16.20 per share;
       
    (b) 12.9 million ordinary shares following the exercise of options under the company’s executive, sharesave and option 2000 schemes and a further 5.6 million ordinary shares in respect of the exercise of options under the NatWest executive and sharesave schemes which had been exchanged for options over the company’s shares following the acquisition of NatWest;
       
    (c) 23.4 million ordinary shares in lieu of cash in respect of the final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2003 and the interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2004; and
       
    (d) 2.4 million ordinary shares under the company’s profit sharing (share ownership) scheme.
       
    Consideration of £2,845 million was received on the issue of ordinary shares for cash and dividends of £394 million were satisfied by the issue of shares.
     
    During the year to 31 December 2004, options were granted over 16.7 million ordinary shares under the company’s executive, sharesave and option 2000 schemes. At 31 December 2004, options granted under the company’s various schemes, exercisable up to 2014 at prices ranging from 461p to 1841p per share, were outstanding in respect of 70.1 million ordinary shares.
     
    In addition, options granted under the NatWest schemes were outstanding in respect of 1.6 million ordinary shares exercisable up to 2009 at prices ranging from 373p to 924p per share. As permitted by UITF 17 ‘Employee share schemes’ applicable to SAYE schemes, no cost has been recognised in respect of sharesave options.
     
    Preference shares
     
    In August 2004, the company issued 37 million Series M non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01 each at US$25 per share, the net proceeds being US$896 million.
     
    In September 2004, the company exchanged all of the outstanding US$850 million 5.75% exchangeable capital securities, Series B, into 34 million Series L non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01 each, at US$25 per share.
     
    In November 2004, the company issued 1.25 million Series 1 non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01 each at €1,000 per share, the net proceeds being €1,225 million.

114







    Non-cumulative preference shares
       
    Non-cumulative preference shares entitle the holders thereof to receive, subject to the company's Articles of Association, periodic non-cumulative cash dividends at specified fixed rates for each Series payable out of distributable profits of the company.
     
    The non-cumulative preference shares are redeemable at the option of the company, in whole or in part from time to time at the rates detailed below plus dividends otherwise payable for the then current dividend period accrued to the date of redemption.
     
    Class of preference share   Series   Number
of shares
in issue 		  Redemption
date on
or after 		          Redemption
                price
         per share
   
    Non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01   Series D   7 million   14 September 2005   US$ 25.00
  Series E   8 million   17 October 2006   US$ 25.00
  Series F   8 million   31 March 2007   US$ 25.00
  Series G   10 million   31 March 2003   US$ 25.00
  Series H   12 million   31 March 2004   US$ 25.00
  Series I   12 million   30 September 2004   US$ 25.00
  Series J   9 million   31 December 2004   US$ 25.00
  Series K   16 million   30 June 2006   US$ 25.00
  Series L   34 million   30 September 2009   US$ 25.00
  Series M   37 million   30 September 2009   US$ 25.00
    Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of US$0.01   Series 1   1 million   31 March 2010   US$ 1,000
  Series 2   0.5 million   31 March 2005   US$ 1,000
  Series 3   0.4 million   31 December 2005   US$ 1,000
    Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of €0.01   Series 1   0.75 million   31 March 2005   € 1,000
    Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01   Series 1   1.25 million   31 December 2009   € 1,000
    Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.01   Series 1   0.2 million   31 December 2010   £ 1,000
   
     
    In the event that the non-cumulative convertible preference shares are not redeemed on or before the redemption date, the holder may convert the non-cumulative convertible preference shares into ordinary shares in the company.
     
    Under existing arrangements, no redemption or purchase of any non-cumulative preference shares may be made by the company without the prior consent of the UK Financial Services Authority.
     
    On a winding-up or liquidation of the company, the holders of the non-cumulative preference shares will be entitled to receive, out of any surplus assets available for distribution to the company’s shareholders (after payment of arrears of dividends on the cumulative preference shares up to the date of repayment) pari passu with the cumulative preference shares, the non-cumulative sterling preference shares and all other shares of the company ranking pari passu with the non- cumulative preference shares as regards participation in the surplus assets of the company, a liquidation distribution of US$25 per non-cumulative preference share of US$0.01, US$1,000 per non-cumulative convertible preference share of US$0.01, €1,000 per non-cumulative convertible preference share of €0.01 and £1,000 per non-cumulative convertible preference share of £0.01, together with an amount equal to dividends for the then current dividend period accrued to the date of payment, before any distribution or payment may be made to holders of the ordinary shares as regards participation in the surplus assets of the company.
     
    Except as described above, the holders of the non-cumulative preference shares have no right to participate in the surplus assets of the company.
     
    Holders of the non-cumulative preference shares are not entitled to receive notice of or attend general meetings of the company except if any resolution is proposed for adoption by the shareholders of the company to vary or abrogate any of the rights attaching to the non-cumulative preference shares or proposing the winding-up or liquidation of the company. In any such case, they are entitled to receive notice of and to attend the general meeting of shareholders at which such resolution is to be proposed and will be entitled to speak and vote on such resolution (but not on any other resolution). In addition, in the event that, prior to any general meeting of shareholders, the company has failed to pay in full the three most recent quarterly dividend payments due on the non-cumulative dollar preference shares, the two most recent semi-annual dividend payments due on the non-cumulative convertible dollar preference shares and the most recent annual dividend payments due on the non-cumulative convertible euro preference shares and on the non-cumulative convertible sterling preference shares, the holders shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend, speak and vote at such meeting on all matters together with the holders of the ordinary shares, and in these circumstances only, the rights of the holders of the non- cumulative preference shares so to vote shall continue until the company shall have resumed the payment in full of the dividends in arrears.

115






Notes on the accounts continued
    34 Reserves        
  2004
The Group
£m 		    2003
The Group
£m 		    2002
The Group
£m 		    2004
The company
£m
   
    Share premium account        
    At 1 January   8,175   7,608   7,465   8,175
    Currency translation adjustments   (231 )   (203 )   (283 )   (231 )
    Shares issued during the year   4,550   760   685   4,550
    Conversion of exchangeable undated loan capital   460   ––   ––   460
    Preference shares redeemed during the year   ––   ––   (268 )   ––
    Other movements   10   10   9   10
   
    At 31 December   12,964   8,175   7,608   12,964
    Merger reserve        
    At 1 January   10,881   11,455   12,029   ––
    Transfer to profit and loss account   (574 )   (574 )   (574 )   ––
   
    At 31 December   10,307   10,881   11,455   ––
    Other reserves        
    At 1 January   419   387   212   156
    Redemption of preference shares   ––   ––   150   ––
    Transfer of increase in value of long-term life assurance business   38   32   25   ––
   
    At 31 December   457   419   387   156
    Revaluation reserve        
    At 1 January   7   80   113   16,857
    Revaluation of interests in subsidiary undertakings   ––   ––   ––   (1,887 )
    Revaluation of premises   56   (69 )   (33 )   ––
    Transfer from/(to) profit and loss account   29   (4 )   ––   ––
   
    At 31 December   92   7   80   14,970
    Profit and loss account        
    As previously reported   7,848   6,768   5,956   2,588
    Prior year adjustment arising on implementation of FRS 17   (2,001 )   (1,981 )   (353 )   -
   
    At 1 January as restated   5,847   4,787   5,603   2,588
    Currency translation adjustments and other movements   (409 )   38   28   (1 )
    Retention for the year   2,419   764   767   785
    Employee share option payments   ––   ––   (136 )   ––
    Redemption of preference shares   ––   (364 )   (332 )   ––
    Actuarial (losses)/gains recognised in post-retirement benefit schemes   (1,134 )   36   (1,692 )   ––
    Own shares held in relation to employee share schemes   (7 )   ––   ––   (7 )
    Goodwill previously written off   ––   40   ––   ––
    Transfer from merger reserve   574   574   574   ––
    Transfer of increase in value of long-term life assurance business   (38 )   (32 )   (25 )   ––
    Transfer (to)/from revaluation reserve   (29 )   4   ––   ––
   
    At 31 December   7,223   5,847   4,787   3,365

    The cumulative goodwill arising on acquisitions of subsidiary and associated undertakings which are still part of the Group and written off directly against profit and loss account reserves of the Group amounted to £1,133 million at 31 December 2004.
     
    Exchange gains of £1,024 million (2003 – £604 million) arising on foreign currency borrowings have been offset in the Group’s profit and loss account reserves against differences on retranslating the net investment in overseas subsidiary and associated undertakings financed by these borrowings.
     
    The tax effect of gains and losses taken directly to reserves was nil (2003 – nil).
     
    Included in the closing balances of the Group’s revaluation reserves and profit and loss account at 31 December 2004 are cumulative net losses of £320 million (2003 – net gains £90 million) relating to the retranslation of opening net assets of subsidiary and associated undertakings offset by foreign currency borrowing.
     
    At 31 December 2004, 707,247 (2003 – 790,019) ordinary shares of 25p each of the company were held by the 1992 Employee Share Trust and 63,098 (2003 – nil) ordinary shares of 25p each were held by the 2001 Employee Share Trust in respect of options under the executive option scheme and awards under the medium term performance plan.

116




Non-equity shareholders’ funds 2004
 £m 		  2003
 £m
Non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01 1,951   1,140
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of US$0.01 978   1,058
Non-cumulative preference shares of €0.01 864   –
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of €0.01 529   528
Non-cumulative convertible preference shares of £0.01 197   196
Cumulative preference shares of £1 1   1
4,520   2,923

35 Lease commitments

The annual rental commitments of the Group under non-cancellable operating leases were as follows:

  2004   2003
 
 
  Premises
 £m		   Equipment
 £m		   Premises
 £m		   Equipment
 £m
Expiring within one year 10   3   7   6
Expiring between one and five years 57   12   39   9
Expiring after five years 201   45   200   1
268   60   246   16

36 Analysis of total assets and liabilities

    2004
 £m 		  2003
 £m
Assets: denominated in sterling 276,291   232,779
denominated in currencies other than sterling 307,176   221,649
583,467   454,428
         
Liabilities: denominated in sterling 271,410   233,493
denominated in currencies other than sterling 312,057   220,935
583,467   454,428

37 Collateral given and received under repurchase transactions

The Group enters into securities repurchase agreements and securities lending transactions under which it receives or transfers cash or securities as collateral in accordance with normal market practice. Securities transferred under repurchase transactions included within securities on the balance sheet were as follows:

  2004
 £m 		  2003
 £m
Treasury and other eligible bills 1,593   761
Debt securities 32,129   24,231
33,722   24,992

All of the above securities could be resold or repledged by the holder. Securities received as collateral under reverse repurchase agreements amounted to £91.4 billion (2003 – £57.7 billion), of which £85.1 billion (2003 – £53.6 billion) had been resold or repledged as collateral for the Group’s own transactions.

117





Notes on the accounts continued

38 Assets charged as security for liabilities

Assets charged as security for liabilities 2004
£m		   2003
£m
Loans and advances to customers 11,509   1,196
Debt securities 4,344   2,628
Tangible fixed assets 1,268   1,162
Loans to banks —   73
Other —   53
17,121   5,112

Included above are assets pledged with overseas government agencies and banks, and margin deposits placed with exchanges.

Liabilities secured by charges on assets 2004
£m		   2003
£m
Deposits by banks 5,628   3,000
Customer accounts 2,001   92
Debt securities in issue 1,522   1,550
9,151   4,642

39 Derivatives

In the normal course of business, the Group enters into a variety of derivative transactions principally in the foreign exchange and interest rate markets. These are used to provide financial services to customers and to take, hedge and modify positions as part of trading activities. Derivatives are also used to hedge or modify risk exposures arising on the balance sheet from a variety of activities including lending and securities investment.

The principal types of derivative contracts into which the Group enters are described below.

Swaps

These are over-the-counter (“OTC”) agreements between two parties to exchange periodic payments of interest, or payments for the change in value of a commodity, or related index, over a set period based on notional principal amounts. The Group enters into swap transactions in several markets. Interest rate swaps exchange fixed rates for floating rates of interest based on notional amounts. Basis swaps exchange floating or fixed interest calculated using different bases. Cross currency swaps are the exchange of interest based on notional values of different currencies. Equity and commodity swaps exchange interest for the return on an equity or commodity, or equity or commodity index.

Options

Currency and interest rate options confer the right, but not the obligation, on the buyer to receive or pay a specific quantity of an asset or financial instrument for a specified price at or before a specified date. Options may be exchange traded or OTC agreements. The Group principally buys and sells currency and interest rate options.

Futures and forwards

Short-term interest rate futures, bond futures and forward foreign exchange contracts are all agreements to deliver, or take delivery of, a specified amount of an asset or financial instrument based on the specified rate, price or index applied against the underlying asset or financial instrument, at a specified date. Futures are exchange traded at standardised amounts of the underlying asset or financial instrument. Forward contracts are OTC agreements and are principally dealt in by the Group in interest rates as forward rate agreements and in currency as forward foreign exchange contracts.

Collateral

The Group may require collateral in respect of the credit risk in derivative transactions. The amount of credit risk is principally the positive fair value of contracts. Collateral may be in the form of cash or in the form of a lien over a customer’s assets entitling the Group to make a claim for current and future liabilities.

118





Maturity of replacement cost of over-the-counter contracts (trading and non-trading)

Replacement cost indicates the Group’s derivatives credit exposure. The following table sets forth the gross positive fair values by maturity. The net replacement cost of internal trades is not included as there is no credit risk associated with them.

  Within
 one year
 £m 		      One to
 two years
 £m 		      Two to
 five years
 £m 		      Over
 five years
 £m 		      2004
 Total
 £m 		  Within
 one year
 £m 		      One to
 two years
 £m 		      Two to
 five years
 £m 		      Over
 five years
 £m 		      2003
 Total
 £m
Before netting:                  
Exchange rate contracts 21,812   2,369   3,045   2,018   29,244   22,315   2,245   2,028   1,575   28,163
Interest rate contracts 6,781   7,447   17,501   27,304   59,033   8,440   7,401   17,462   21,671   54,974
Credit derivatives ––   15   92   157   264   11   7   85   169   272
Equity and commodity contracts 623   130   675   13   1,441   102   590   319   9   1,020
29,216   9,961   21,313   29,492   89,982   30,868   10,243   19,894   23,424   84,429
                                       
Banks and investment firms         70,501           70,421
Others         19,481           14,008
        89,982           84,429

At 31 December 2004, the potential credit risk exposure, which is after netting and allowing for collateral received, of the Group’s trading and non-trading derivatives, was £6,290 million (2003 – £5,405 million) to banks and investment firms and £7,900 million (2003 – £5,985 million) to other counterparties.

Exchange traded contracts are excluded from the above table. Such contracts generally involve lower credit risk than OTC contracts as they are cleared through exchanges that require margin from participants and the daily settlement of gains and losses.

Trading derivatives

The following table shows the fair values of instruments in the derivatives trading portfolio:

  2004
 End of period fair value		   2003
 End of period fair value
 
  Assets
 £m		   Liabilities
 £m		   Assets
 £m		   Liabilities
 £m
Exchange rate contracts:      
Spot, forwards and futures 17,133   18,566   18,299   20,325  
Currency swaps 6,281   6,314   5,183   4,944  
Options purchased 5,797   ––   4,620   —  
Options written —   5,324   —   4,295  
29,211   30,204   28,102   29,564  
                 
Interest rate contracts:      
Interest rate swaps 55,001   55,360   50,838   50,744  
Options purchased 3,168   ––   2,799   —  
Options written —   3,274   —   2,829  
Futures and forwards 475   479   629   639  
58,644   59,113   54,266   54,212  
                 
Credit derivatives 264   285   273   155  
                 
Equity and commodity contracts 1,274   941   924   720  
89,393   90,543   83,565   84,651  
Netting (71,509 ) (71,509 ) (69,478 ) (69,478 )
17,884   19,034   14,087   15,173  
                 
Average fair values (before netting):      
Exchange rate contracts 20,050   21,193   18,967   19,619  
Interest rate contracts 55,548   56,258   65,676   65,977  
Credit derivatives 219   177   365   133  
Equity and commodity contracts 1,325   920   877   624  
77,142   78,548   85,885   86,353  

Gains and losses on exchange traded contracts subject to daily margining requirements are settled daily. The fair value of such contracts included above reflects the last day’s variation margin.

119





Notes on the accounts continued

39 Derivatives (continued)
The following table analyses, by maturity and contract type, the notional principal amounts of the Group’s trading derivatives:

  Within
 one year
 £bn 		      One to
 two years
 £bn 		      Two to
 five years
 £bn 		      Over
 five years
 £bn 		      2004
 Total
 £bn 		  Within
 one year
 £bn 		      One to
 two years
 £bn 		      Two to
 five years
 £bn 		      Over
 five years
 £bn 		      2003
 Total
 £bn
Exchange rate contracts:                  
Spot, forwards and futures 707.5   27.7   10.4   0.5   746.1   616.8   24.9   7.2   0.2   649.1
Currency swaps 49.5   31.1   54.3   42.7   177.6   43.5   26.0   43.4   33.3   146.2
Options purchased 214.9   13.1   13.1   1.7   242.8   156.1   10.5   4.1   1.0   171.7
Options written 223.1   19.2   12.3   1.6   256.2   164.7   8.5   3.4   1.1   177.7
1,195.0   91.1   90.1   46.5   1,422.7   981.1   69.9   58.1   35.6   1,144.7
                                       
Interest rate contracts:                  
Interest rate swaps 1,797.1   977.9   1,236.9   926.9   4,938.8   1,555.8   675.6   960.8   630.1   3,822.3
Options purchased 74.4   55.4   89.2   77.3   296.3   91.1   34.2   49.3   50.4   225.0
Options written 78.6   52.0   82.5   74.0   287.1   48.0   36.6   47.0   48.5   180.1
Futures and forwards 823.9   199.9   67.0   —   1,090.8   865.3   159.3   55.3   0.5   1,080.4
2,774.0   1,285.2   1,475.6   1,078.2   6,613.0   2,560.2   905.7   1,112.4   729.5   5,307.8
Credit derivatives 5.1   4.1   32.3   17.7   59.2   7.1   1.7   11.9   7.8   28.5
Equity and commodity contracts 24.3   7.5   11.4   0.2   43.4   20.4   5.3   8.2   0.2   34.1

Non-trading derivatives

The Group establishes non-trading derivatives positions externally with third parties and also internally. It should be noted that the following tables include the components of the internal hedging programme that transfers risks to the trading portfolios in the Group or to external third party participants in the derivatives markets.

The following table summarises the fair values and book values of derivatives held for non-trading activities and includes internal trades:

  2004
    Fair value		   2004
 Book value		   2003
    Fair value		   2003
 Book value
 
 
 
 
  Positive
  £m		   Negative
 £m		   Positive
  £m		   Negative
 £m		   Positive
  £m		   Negative
 £m		   Positive
  £m		   Negative
 £m
Exchange rate contracts:              
Spot, forwards and futures 46   665   35   603   101   464   94   460
Currency swaps and options 349   227   234   123   304   210   224   135
395   892   269   726   405   674   318   595
                               
Interest rate contracts:              
Interest rate swaps 1,617   1,342   623   650   2,541   2,247   608   683
Futures, forwards and options 71   318   2   2   62   416   1   2
1,688   1,660   625   652   2,603   2,663   609   685
Credit derivatives 4   11   —   6   3   6   —   —
Equity and commodity contracts 207   62   102   15   118   52   78   22
Total 2,294   2,625   996   1,399   3,129   3,395   1,005   1,302

The following table analyses, by maturity and contract type, the notional principal amounts of the Group’s non-trading derivatives (third party and internal):

  Within
 one year
 £bn 		      One to
 two years
 £bn 		      Two to
 five years
 £bn 		      Over
 five years
 £bn 		      2004
 Total
 £bn 		  Within
 one year
 £bn 		      One to
 two years
 £bn 		      Two to
 five years
 £bn 		      Over
 five years
 £bn 		      2003
 Total
 £bn
Exchange rate contracts:                  
Spot, forwards and futures 20.5   0.2   —   0.1   20.8   19.4   —   0.2   0.1   19.7
Currency swaps and options 1.6   0.3   1.1   2.0   5.0   3.2   1.0   0.7   1.9   6.8
22.1   0.5   1.1   2.1   25.8   22.6   1.0   0.9   2.0   26.5
                                       
Interest rate contracts:                  
Interest rate swaps 34.4   6.7   30.7   48.7   120.5   34.4   15.1   33.5   43.7   126.7
Futures, forwards and options 0.9   0.2   3.8   8.7   13.6   0.4   0.1   3.3   4.6   8.4
35.3   6.9   34.5   57.4   134.1   34.8   15.2   36.8   48.3   135.1
Credit derivatives —   0.1   0.3   0.8   1.2   —   0.5   0.2   0.3   1.0
Equity and commodity contracts 0.4   0.2   1.1   0.6   2.3   0.3   0.5   0.7   0.2   1.7

120





40 Financial instruments

The Group’s objectives and policies in managing the risks that arise in connection with the use of financial instruments are set out in the Operating and financial review under ‘Market risk’, ‘Currency risk’ and ‘Equity risk’.

Interest rate sensitivity gap

The tables below summarise the Group’s interest rate sensitivity gap for its non-trading book at 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2003. The tables show the contractual repricing for each category of asset, liability and for off-balance sheet items. A liability (or negative) gap position exists when liabilities reprice more quickly or in greater proportion than assets during a given period and tends to benefit net interest income in a declining interest rate environment. An asset (or positive) gap position exists when assets reprice more quickly or in greater proportion than liabilities during a given period and tends to benefit net interest income in a rising interest rate environment. Contractual repricing terms do not reflect the potential impact of early repayment or withdrawal. Positions may not be reflective of those in subsequent periods. Major changes in positions can be made promptly as market outlooks change. In addition, significant variations in interest rate sensitivity may exist within the re-pricing periods presented and among the currencies in which the Group has interest rate positions.

2004 Within
 3 months
 £m		 After
 3 months
 but within
 6 months
 £m		   After
 6 months
 but within
 1 year
 £m		   After
 1 year
 but within
 5 years
 £m		 After
 5 years
 £m		   Non-interest
 bearing
 funds
 £m		   Banking
 book
 total
 £m		 Trading
 book
 total
 £m		   Total
£m
Assets          
Loans and advances to banks 14,645 5,140   1,367 77 482   643   22,354 35,906   58,260
Loans and advances to customers 189,366 16,202   11,379 35,370 28,612   2,304   283,233 62,236   345,469
Treasury bills and debt securities 11,912 4,088   3,656 6,133 13,548   337   39,674 57,647   97,321
Other assets — —   — — —   57,508   57,508 24,909   82,417
Total assets 215,923 25,430   16,402 41,580 42,642   60,792   402,769 180,698   583,467
                                   
Liabilities        
Deposits by banks 54,679 2,282   907 119 477   935   59,399 39,682   99,081
Customer accounts 192,543 5,589   6,948 7,043 461   31,345   243,929 41,133   285,062
Debt securities in issue 41,805 5,505   4,418 4,087 1,385   —   57,200 1,760   58,960
Subordinated liabilities 4,401 1,020   302 2,151 12,438   —   20,312 54   20,366
Other liabilities 4 5   8 49 126   34,948   35,140 52,993   88,133
Shareholders’ funds — —   — — —   30,715   30,715 1,150   31,865
Internal funding of trading book (42,516 ) (313 ) (1,088 ) (9 ) —   —   (43,926 ) 43,926   ––
Total liabilities 250,916 14,088   11,495 13,440 14,887   97,943   402,769 180,698   583,467
Off-balance sheet items (2,126 ) (6,906 ) (1,160 ) 1,560 8,632   —    
Interest rate sensitivity gap (37,119 ) 4,436   3,747   29,700 36,387   (37,151 )      
     
Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap (37,119 ) (32,683 ) (28,936 ) 764 37,151      
   

121





Notes on the accounts continued

40 Financial instruments (continued)

2003* Within
 3 months
 £m		 After
 3 months
 but within
 6 months
 £m		   After
 6 months
 but within
 1 year
 £m		   After
 1 year
 but within
 5 years
 £m		 After
 5 years
 £m		   Non-interest
 bearing
 funds
 £m		   Banking
 book
 total
 £m		 Trading
 book
 total
 £m		   Total
£m
Assets        
Loans and advances to banks 11,149 3,780   5,188   122 32 1,087   21,358 30,533   51,891
Loans and advances to customers 155,920 11,832   7,763   27,992 18,463 1,486   223,456 29,075   252,531
Treasury bills and debt securities 18,906 2,594   4,835   5,525 11,175 2,316   45,351 39,444   84,795
Other assets — —   —   — — 46,583   46,583 18,628   65,211
Total assets 185,975 18,206   17,786   33,639 29,670 51,472   336,748 117,680   454,428
                                   
Liabilities        
Deposits by banks 37,670 1,178   408   308 414 1,083   41,061 26,262   67,323
Customer accounts 172,563 4,110   2,360   3,352 400 28,140   210,925 26,038   236,963
Debt securities in issue 27,254 2,567   4,428   4,804 846 —   39,899 1,117   41,016
Subordinated liabilities 3,583 601   104   1,762 10,889 —   16,939 59   16,998
Other liabilities 5 5   9   37 126 28,047   28,229 37,801   66,030
Shareholders’ funds — —   —   — — 25,017   25,017 1,081   26,098
Internal funding of trading business (22,447 ) (1,060 ) (1,239 ) (379 ) (197 ) —   (25,322 ) 25,322   —
Total liabilities 218,628 7,401   6,070   9,884 12,478 82,287   336,748 117,680   454,428
Off-balance sheet items (7,943 ) (1,122 ) 3,597   964 4,504 —    
           
Interest rate sensitivity gap (40,596 ) 9,683   15,313   24,719 21,696 (30,815 )      
     
Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap (40,596 ) (30,913 ) (15,600 ) 9,119 30,815    
     

*restated (see page 85)

Currency risk

The Group does not maintain material non-trading open currency positions other than the structural foreign currency translation exposures arising from its investment in overseas subsidiary and associated undertakings and their related funding.

The Group’s structural currency exposures were as follows:

Functional currency of net investment
  Net
 investments
 in overseas
 operations
 £m 		            Foreign
 currency
 borrowings
 hedging net
 investments
 £m 		            2004
 Structural
 foreign
 currency
 exposures
 £m 		              Net
 investments
 in overseas
 operations
 £m 		            Foreign
 currency
 borrowings
 hedging net
 investments
 £m 		            2003
 Structural
 foreign
 currency
 exposures
 £m
US dollar 12,367   6,580   5,787   5,329   5,198   131
Euro 2,086   1,349   737   1,422   826   596
Swiss franc 398   392   6   357   357   —
Other non-sterling 116   112   4   118   114   4
Total 14,967   8,433   6,534   7,226   6,495   731

Trading book market risk

An explanation of the value-at-risk (“VaR”) methodology of estimating potential losses arising from the Group’s exposure to market risk in its trading book and the main assumptions and parameters underlying it is given in ‘Risk management – market risk’ in the Operating and financial review.

The following table analyses the VaR for the Group’s trading portfolios by type of market risk exposure at the period end and as an average for the period and the maximum and minimum for the period:

      Year ended 31 December 2004       Year ended 31 December 2003
  31 December
2004
 £m		  
  31 December
2003
 £m		  
    Maximum
 £m		   Minimum
 £m		   Average
 £m		     Maximum
 £m		   Minimum
 £m		   Average
 £m
 
Interest rate 11.2 16.5   6.9   11.5   7.4 14.5   5.7   9.4
Currency 1.2 2.7   0.5   1.1   0.8 2.5   0.7   1.3
Equity 0.2 2.0   0.2   0.6   0.4 1.4   0.2   0.5
Diversification effects (2.3 )       (1.2 )    
 
 
Total 10.3 16.0   6.4   10.8   7.4 14.2   5.6   9.4

122





Fair values of financial instruments

The following tables set out the fair values of the Group’s financial instruments. Fair value is the amount at which an instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. Quoted market values are used where available; otherwise, fair values have been estimated based on discounted expected future cash flows and other valuation techniques. These techniques involve uncertainties and require assumptions and judgements covering prepayments, credit risk and discount rates. Changes in these assumptions would significantly affect estimated fair values. The fair values reported would not necessarily be realised in an immediate sale; nor are there plans to settle liabilities prior to contractual maturity. As there is a wide range of valuation techniques, it may be inappropriate to compare the Group’s fair value information to independent markets or other financial institutions’ fair value.

Trading business Note 2004
 Carrying
 amount
 £m 		        2004
 Fair
 value
 £m 		        2003
 Carrying
 amount
 £m 		        2003
 Fair
 value
 £m
Assets      
Treasury bills and other eligible bills (1 ) 2,921   2,921   1,869   1,869
Loans and advances to banks and customers (1 ) 98,142   98,142   59,608   59,608
Debt securities (1 ) 54,726   54,726   37,575   37,575
Equity shares (1 ) 486   486   428   428
Derivatives (2 ) 17,884   17,884   14,087   14,087
                   
Liabilities      
Deposits by banks and customer accounts (3 ) 80,815   80,815   52,300   52,300
Debt securities in issue (1 ) 1,760   1,760   1,117   1,117
Short positions in securities (1 ) 28,923   28,923   19,128   19,128
Subordinated loan capital (1 ) 54   54   59   59
Derivatives (2 ) 19,034   19,034   15,173   15,173

Banking business Note 2004
 Carrying
 amount
 £m 		        2004
 Fair
 value
 £m 		        2003
 Carrying
 amount
 £m 		        2003
 Fair
 value
 £m
Assets      
Cash and balances at central banks (1 ) 4,293   4,293   3,822   3,822
Items in the course of collection from other banks (1 ) 2,629   2,629   2,501   2,501
Treasury bills and other eligible bills (1 ) 3,189   3,189   2,977   2,977
Loans and advances to banks and customers (4 ) 305,587   307,805   244,814   246,244
Debt securities (5 ) 36,485   36,299   42,374   42,195
Equity shares (5 ) 2,474   2,916   1,872   2,289
                   
Liabilities      
Items in the course of transmission to other banks (1 ) 802   802   958   958
Deposits by banks and customer accounts (3 ) 303,328   303,210   251,986   252,360
Debt securities in issue (6 ) 57,200   57,199   39,899   39,897
Subordinated loan capital (7 ) 20,312   21,652   16,939   17,522
Non-equity minority interests (7 ) 3,671   3,899   2,724   2,867
Non-equity shareholders’ funds (7 ) 4,520   4,811   2,923   3,245
Derivatives – net (2 ) 403   331   297   266

  Notes:
(1)      Financial assets and financial liabilities carried at fair value or where carrying value approximates to fair value because they are of short maturity or repricing date.
(2)      Fair values of derivatives are determined by market prices where available. Otherwise fair value is based on current market information using appropriate valuation models.
(3)      The fair value of deposits repayable on demand is equal to their carrying value. The fair values of term deposits and time certificates of deposit are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
(4)      For loans which reprice frequently or are linked to the Group’s base rate, and for which there has been no significant change in credit risk since inception, carrying value represents a reasonable estimate of fair value. For other loans, fair values are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows, using current interest rates appropriate to the type of loan, and making adjustments for credit risk.
(5)      Fair values of marketable securities are based on quoted market prices. Where these are unavailable, fair value is estimated using other valuation techniques.
(6)      The fair value of short-term debt securities in issue is approximately equal to their carrying value. The fair value of other debt securities in issue is based on quoted market prices where available, or where these are unavailable, is estimated using other valuation techniques.
(7)      The fair value of loan capital, non-equity minority interests and preference shares is based on quoted market prices where available. For unquoted loan capital, fair value has been estimated using other valuation techniques.
(8)      Fair values are not given for financial commitments and contingent liabilities. The diversity of the fee structures, the lack of an established market and the difficulty of separating the value of the instruments from the value of the overall relationship involve such uncertainty that it is not meaningful to provide an estimate of their fair value. (The principal amounts of these instruments are given in Note 41).
   

123





Notes on the accounts continued

40 Financial instruments (continued)

Hedges

Derivatives and debt securities held for hedging purposes are accounted for in accordance with the treatment of the hedged transaction. As a result, any gains or losses on the hedging instrument arising from changes in fair values are not recognised in the profit and loss account immediately but are accounted for in the same manner as the hedged item.

  2004
 Unrecognised
 gains and
 losses
 £m 		          2004
 Deferred
 gains and
 losses
 £m 		          2003
 Unrecognised
 gains and
 losses
 £m 		          2003
 Deferred
 gains and
 losses
 £m
At 1 January – gains 2,236 213 2,535 285
At 1 January – losses (2,205 ) (34 ) (2,275 ) (44 )
31 179 260 241
Recognised gains that arose in previous periods (781 ) (65 ) (659 ) (72 )
Recognised losses that arose in previous periods 537 4 636 12
Unrecognised gains and losses arising in the year 224 — (208 ) —
Unrecognised gains and losses deferred in the year 61 (61 ) 2 (2 )
Unrecognised gains and losses deferred and taken to profit and loss in the year — (30 ) — —
At 31 December 72 27 31 179
                 
Of which – gains 1,571 483 2,236 213
Of which – losses (1,499 ) (456 ) (2,205 ) (34 )
72 27 31 179
                 
Gains expected to be recognised in the year to 31 December 2005
       (year to 31 December 2004) 318 171 532 66
Gains expected to be recognised in the year to 31 December 2006 or later
       (year to 31 December 2005 or later) 1,253 312 1,704 147
1,571 483 2,236 213
                 
Losses expected to be recognised in the year to 31 December 2005
       (year to 31 December 2004) (221 ) (91 ) (371 ) (5 )
Losses expected to be recognised in the year to 31 December 2006 or later
       (year to 31 December 2005 or later) (1,278 ) (365 ) (1,834 ) (29 )
(1,499 ) (456 ) (2,205 ) (34 )

During the year to 31 December 2004, gains of £249 million (2003 – £58 million) and losses of £166 million (2003 – £95 million) arising in previous periods were taken directly to the profit and loss account on financial instruments no longer accounted for as hedges.

41 Memorandum items

Contingent liabilities and commitments

The amounts shown in the table below are intended only to provide an indication of the volume of business outstanding at 31 December. Although the Group is exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance of the obligations undertaken by customers, the amounts shown do not, and are not intended to, provide any indication of the Group’s expectation of future losses.

2004   2003
£m   £m
Contingent liabilities:  
Acceptances and endorsements 362   595
Guarantees and assets pledged as collateral security 10,438   8,787
Other contingent liabilities 5,293   5,482
16,093   14,864
Commitments:  
Documentary credits and other short-term trade related transactions 182   605
Undrawn formal standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend    
       – less than one year 109,653   85,424
       – one year and over 69,577   51,827
Other commitments 1,365   1,837
180,777   139,693

124



Banking commitments and contingent obligations, which have been entered into on behalf of customers and for which there are corresponding obligations from customers, are not included in assets and liabilities. The Group’s maximum exposure to credit loss, in the event of non-performance by the other party and where all counterclaims, collateral or security proves valueless, is represented by the contractual nominal amount of these instruments included in the table. These commitments and contingent obligations are subject to the Group’s normal credit approval processes and any potential loss is taken into account in assessing provisions for bad and doubtful debts in accordance with the Group’s provisioning policy.

Contingent liabilities

Acceptances – in accepting a bill of exchange drawn on it by a customer a bank undertakes to pay the holder of the bill at maturity. Most acceptances are presented for payment and reimbursement by the customer is usually immediate. In the UK, bills accepted by certain banks designated by the Bank of England are eligible for rediscount at the Bank of England.

Endorsements – in endorsing a bill of exchange a bank accepts liability for payment of any shortfall on the bill at maturity. Unlike acceptances, the endorsing bank receives value for the bill, which is then rediscounted.

Guarantees – the Group gives guarantees on behalf of customers. A financial guarantee represents an irrevocable undertaking that the Group will meet a customer’s obligations to third parties if the customer fails to do so. The maximum amount that the Group could be required to pay under a guarantee is its principal amount as disclosed in the table above. The Group expects most guarantees it provides to expire unused.

Other contingent liabilities – these include standby letters of credit, supporting customer debt issues and contingent liabilities relating to customer trading activities such as those arising from performance and customs bonds, warranties and indemnities.

Commitments

Documentary credits and other short-term trade related transactions – documentary letters are commercial letters of credit providing for payment by the Group to a named beneficiary against presentation of specified documents.

Commitments to lend – under a loan commitment the Group agrees to make funds available to a customer in the future. Loan commitments, which are usually for a specified term may be unconditionally cancellable or may persist, provided all conditions in the loan facility are satisfied or waived. Commitments to lend include commercial standby facilities and credit lines, liquidity facilities to commercial paper conduits and unutilised overdraft facilities.

Other commitments – these include forward asset purchases, forward forward deposits placed and undrawn note issuance and revolving underwriting facilities.

Regulatory enquiries and investigations – in the normal course of business the Group and its subsidiaries co-operate with regulatory authorities in various jurisdictions in their enquiries or investigations into alleged or possible breaches of regulations.

Additional contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of the Group’s business. It is not anticipated that any material loss will arise from these transactions.

Litigation

Since December 2003, members of the Group have been joined as defendants in a number of legal actions in the United States following the collapse of Enron. Collectively, the claims are, to a substantial degree, unquantified and in each case they are made against large numbers of defendants. The Group intends to defend these claims vigorously. The US Courts dealing with the main Enron actions have ordered that the Group join the non-binding, multi-party mediation which commenced in late 2003. Based on current knowledge including applicable defences and given the unquantified nature of these claims, the directors are unable at this stage to predict with certainty the eventual loss in these matters. In addition, pursuant to requests received from the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Department of Justice, the Group has been providing copies of Enron-related materials to these authorities and the Group continues to cooperate fully with them.

Members of the Group are engaged in other litigation in the United Kingdom and a number of overseas jurisdictions, including the United States, involving claims by and against them arising in the ordinary course of business. The directors of the company have reviewed these other actual, threatened and known potential claims and proceedings and, after consulting with the Group’s legal advisers are satisfied that the outcome of these claims and proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Group’s consolidated net assets, results of operations or cash flows.

125





Notes on the accounts continued

42 Acquisitions

The Group made a number of acquisitions during the year, all of which were accounted for using acquisition accounting principles.

(a) Charter One

Charter One Financial, Inc. was acquired by Citizens in August 2004 for a cash consideration of US$10.1 billion. The acquisition has extended Citizen's coverage to North Eastern and Mid Western States of the US and will enable Citizens to achieve a significant increase in the scale of its activities.

Although not required, as it is not a material acquisition for the Group, separate purchase accounting disclosures for Charter One Financial, Inc. are set out below. The provisional fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired and the consideration paid are shown in the table below:

At date of acquisition Book value of
 net assets
 acquired
 £m 		          Fair value
 adjustments
 £m 		          Fair value to
 the Group
 £m
Cash and balances at central banks 330 * — 330
Loans and advances to customers 18,287 (274 ) 18,013
Debt securities 3,107 (26 ) 3,081
Equity shares 381 — 381
Tangible fixed assets 699 — 699
Other assets 740 (2 ) 738
             
Deposits by banks (5,579 ) — (5,579 )
Customer accounts (15,823 ) (28 ) (15,851 )
Other liabilities (49 ) (45 ) (94 )
Deferred tax provisions (534 ) 46 (488 )
Post-retirement pension liabilities (17 ) — (17 )
Dated loan capital (222 ) (22 ) (244 )
Net assets acquired 1,320 * (351 ) 969
 
Goodwill 4,654
Total consideration 5,623
Satisfied by:
Payment of cash 5,611
Fees and expenses relating to the acquisition 12
5,623

* Reduced by £307 million (US$553 million) paid out by Charter One immediately prior to closing principally in respect of the buyout of employee stock options. Gross of this amount, consideration was £5,930 million (US$10,677 million) and the book value of net assets acquired £1,627 million (US$2,929 million).

Fair value adjustments reflect the restatement of balances to their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition, and the related tax effect.

The estimated contribution to the Group’s results, before funding costs of Charter One, for the year ended 31 December 2004 is shown below:

Four months ended
 31 December 2004
 £m
Net interest income 220
Non-interest income 129
Total income 349
Operating expenses (177 )
Contribution before provisions 172
Provisions (16 )
Contribution before goodwill amortisation 156
Goodwill amortisation (76 )
Contribution 80

The contribution above is after charging goodwill amortisation and includes the post-acquisition effect of fair value adjustments.

126





(b) Other acquisitions

The provisional fair values of the assets and liabilities of all other acquisitions made during the year and the consideration paid are shown in the table below:

At respective dates of acquisition Book value of
 net assets
 acquired
 £m 		          Fair value
 adjustments
 £m 		          Fair value to
 the Group
 £m
Cash and balances at central banks 106 2 108
Loans and advances to banks 768 — 768
Loans and advances to customers 5,491 (70 ) 5,421
Debt securities 938 (6 ) 932
Tangible fixed assets 106 (7 ) 99
Other assets 129 (15 ) 114
Prepayments and accrued income 5 5 10
             
Deposits by banks (1,874 ) — (1,874 )
Customer accounts (3,208 ) (4 ) (3,212 )
Debt securities in issue (777 ) — (777 )
Other liabilities (118 ) 45 (73 )
Accruals and deferred income (27 ) (38 ) (65 )
Deferred tax provisions (6 ) (20 ) (26 )
Post-retirement benefit liabilities (15 ) — (15 )
Other provisions (13 ) 1 (12 )
Dated loan capital (81 ) (7 ) (88 )
Undated loan capital (36 ) (29 ) (65 )
Minority interest-equity (4 ) — (4 )
Net assets acquired 1,384 (143 ) 1,241
Goodwill 1,245
Total consideration 2,486
Satisfied by:
Payment of cash 2,468
Loan notes 4
Fees and expenses relating to the acquisitions 14
2,486

Fair value adjustments reflect the restatement of balances to their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition, and the related tax effect.

The estimated contribution to the Group’s results, before funding costs of the acquisitions, is shown below:

  Year ended
 31 December 2004*
 £m		  
Net interest income 165
Non-interest income 88
Total income 253
Operating expenses (125 )
Operating profit 128
Provisions (42 )
Contribution before goodwill amortisation 86
Goodwill amortisation (45 )
Contribution 41

*      From the dates of acquisition. The contribution above is after charging goodwill amortisation and includes the post-acquisition effect of fair value adjustments.
   

127





Notes on the accounts continued

43 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities

  2004
 £m 		    2003*
 £m 		  2002*
 £m
Operating profit 6,917 6,076 4,852
Increase in prepayments and accrued income (1,609 ) (514 ) (636 )
Interest on subordinated liabilities 681 551 659
Increase in accruals and deferred income 2,300 1,455 872
Amortisation of and provisions against investment securities 92 60 99
Provisions for bad and doubtful debts 1,428 1,461 1,286
Loans and advances written off net of recoveries (1,321 ) (1,447 ) (973 )
Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets (69 ) (30 ) (32 )
Profit on sale of subsidiaries and associates (4 ) (63 ) (13 )
Profit from associated undertakings (35 ) (12 ) (2 )
Profit on sale of investment securities (167 ) (172 ) (85 )
Charge for pensions 381 330 127
Pension contributions (1,146 ) (141 ) (168 )
Provisions for liabilities and charges 20 36 47
Provisions utilised (47 ) (99 ) (56 )
Depreciation and amortisation of tangible and intangible fixed assets 2,022 1,682 1,626
Increase in value of long-term assurance business (94 ) (73 ) (61 )
Net cash inflow from trading activities 9,349 9,100 7,542
(Increase)/decrease in items in the course of collection (128 ) 240 547
(Increase)/decrease in treasury and other eligible bills (1,264 ) 6,626 (1,323 )
(Increase)/decrease in loans and advances to banks (3,370 ) 2,797 (2,756 )
Increase in loans and advances to customers (69,543 ) (26,140 ) (32,670 )
(Increase)/decrease in securities (10,367 ) (9,871 ) 1,799
Increase in other assets (3,503 ) (977 ) (1,181 )
Decrease in items in the course of transmission (156 ) (300 ) (851 )
Increase in deposits by banks 24,310 11,188 14,512
Increase in customer accounts 29,107 15,669 19,383
Increase in debt securities in issue 17,163 7,078 3,269
Increase/(decrease) in other liabilities 4,817 (168 ) 3,817
Increase in settlement balances and short positions 8,796 3,202 482
Effect of other accruals/deferrals and other non-cash movements 1,096 1,264 1,167
Net cash inflow from operating activities 6,307 19,708 13,737

*   restated (see page 85)

128





44 Analysis of the net outflow of cash in respect of the purchase of businesses and subsidiary undertakings

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Cash consideration paid (8,105 ) (2,252 ) (415 )
Cash acquired 457 504 107
Net outflow of cash (7,648 ) (1,748 ) (308 )

45 Sale of subsidiary and associated undertakings

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		  
 
Net assets disposed of 2   66   13  
Goodwill written back —   40   —  
Goodwill sold 16   10   3  
Profit on disposal 4   63   13  
 
Net inflow of cash in respect of disposals (net of expenses) 22   179   29  
 

46 Analysis of changes in financing during the year
  Share capital
     (including share premium)		 Loan capital
 
  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		 2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
At 1 January 8,944 8,362 8,358 16,998 13,965 12,530
Currency translation adjustments (231 ) (203 ) (283 ) (475 ) (448 ) (520 )
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 4,203 (180 ) (515 ) 3,906 3,481 1,955
Acquisition of subsidiaries — — — 397 — —
Other non-cash movements 870 965 802 (460 ) — —
At 31 December 13,786 8,944 8,362 20,366 16,998 13,965

47 Analysis of cash

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		  
 
Cash and balances at central banks 4,293   3,822   3,481  
Loans and advances to banks repayable on demand 19,430   17,115   6,792  
 
Cash 23,723   20,937   10,273  
 

Certain subsidiary undertakings are required to maintain balances with the Bank of England which, at 31 December 2004, amounted to £260 million (2003 – £231 million). Certain subsidiary undertakings are required by law to maintain reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank in the US. Such reserve balances amounted to US$132 million at 31 December 2004 (2003 – US$190 million).

48 Analysis of changes in cash during the year

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		  
 
At 1 January 20,937   10,273   7,027  
Net cash inflow 2,786   10,664   3,246  
 
At 31 December 23,723   20,937   10,273  
 

129





Notes on the accounts continued

49 Segmental analysis

In the tables below, the analyses of net assets are included in compliance with Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 25 ‘Segmental Reporting’. The fungible nature of liabilities within the banking industry results in allocations of liabilities which, in some cases, are necessarily subjective. The directors believe that it is more meaningful to analyse total assets and the result of this analysis is therefore also included in the tables.

The prior year data in the tables below have been restated to reflect the transfer in 2004 of certain activities from Wealth Management to Retail Banking and from other divisions, principally RBS Insurance and Ulster Bank, to Manufacturing.

a) Classes of business

2004     Net
 interest
 income
 £m 		                  Non-interest
 income
 £m 		                  Total
 income
 £m 		            Operating
 expenses
 and other
 operating
 charges
 £m 		                    Provisions*
 £m 		            Profit/
 (loss) on
 ordinary
 activities
 before tax
 £m
Corporate Banking and Financial Markets 2,545 4,964   7,509 (2,664 ) (580 ) 4,265
Retail Banking 3,112 1,630   4,742 (1,074 ) (389 ) 3,279
Retail Direct 938 1,191   2,129 (712 ) (377 ) 1,040
Manufacturing –– ––   –– (2,439 ) –– (2,439 )
Wealth Management 497 451   948 (463 ) (17 ) 468
RBS Insurance 420 4,514   4,934 (4,072 ) –– 862
Ulster Bank 550 193   743 (235 ) (40 ) 468
Citizens 1,540 601   2,141 (1,024 ) (80 ) 1,037
Central items (394 ) 2   (392 ) (459 ) (28 ) (879 )
Profit before goodwill amortisation and integration costs 9,208 13,546   22,754 (13,142 ) (1,511 ) 8,101
Goodwill amortisation –– ––   –– (915 ) –– (915 )
Integration costs –– ––   –– (269 ) –– (269 )
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 9,208 13,546   22,754 (14,326 ) (1,511 ) 6,917
                         
2003  
Corporate Banking and Financial Markets 2,324 4,373   6,697 (2,322 ) (755 ) 3,620
Retail Banking 2,959 1,514   4,473 (1,030 ) (273 ) 3,170
Retail Direct 849 986   1,835 (657 ) (297 ) 881
Manufacturing — —   — (2,114 ) — (2,114 )
Wealth Management 457 352   809 (398 ) (9 ) 402
RBS Insurance 232 3,013   3,245 (2,636 ) — 609
Ulster Bank 396 185   581 (195 ) (32 ) 354
Citizens 1,310 514   1,824 (879 ) (88 ) 857
Central items** (226 ) 43   (183 ) (488 ) (40 ) (711 )
Profit before goodwill amortisation and integration costs 8,301 10,980   19,281 (10,719 ) (1,494 ) 7,068
Goodwill amortisation — —   — (763 ) — (763 )
Integration costs — —   — (229 ) — (229 )
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 8,301 10,980   19,281 (11,711 ) (1,494 ) 6,076
                         
2002  
Corporate Banking and Financial Markets 2,349 3,703   6,052 (2,066 ) (725 ) 3,261
Retail Banking 2,849 1,430   4,279 (992 ) (213 ) 3,074
Retail Direct 749 841   1,590 (601 ) (281 ) 708
Manufacturing — —   — (1,952 ) — (1,952 )
Wealth Management 451 370   821 (425 ) 11 407
RBS Insurance 158 1,981   2,139 (1,683 ) — 456
Ulster Bank 339 181   520 (180 ) (22 ) 318
Citizens 1,248 468   1,716 (855 ) (95 ) 766
Central items** (294 ) 193   (101 ) (377 ) (20 ) (498 )
Profit before goodwill amortisation and integration costs 7,849 9,167   17,016 (9,131 ) (1,345 ) 6,540
Goodwill amortisation — —   — (731 ) — (731 )
Integration costs — —   — (957 ) — (957 )
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 7,849 9,167   17,016 (10,819 ) (1,345 ) 4,852

*      comprises provisions for bad and doubtful debts and amounts written off fixed asset investments.
**      restated (see page 85)
   

130






  Total assets   Net assets
 
 
  2004
£m		   2003*
£m		   2004
£m		   2003*
£m		  
 
Corporate Banking and Financial Markets 346,823   268,523   13,035 11,726  
Retail Banking 77,900   67,360   4,269 3,747  
Retail Direct 26,862   21,905   1,479 1,236  
Manufacturing 5,174   4,259   242 194  
Wealth Management 11,751   15,211   580 669  
RBS Insurance 10,822   10,124   1,829 1,362  
Ulster Bank 27,365   15,560   1,385 988  
Citizens 68,262   42,897   10,042 4,395  
Central items 8,508   8,589   (996 ) 1,781  
 
583,467   454,428   31,865 26,098  
 

*   restated (see page 85)

Segmental analysis of goodwill is as follows:


    CBFM
 £m 		      Retail
 Banking
 £m 		      Retail
 Direct
 £m 		      Wealth
 Management
 £m 		      RBS
 Insurance
 £m 		      Ulster
 Bank
 £m 		        Citizens
 £m 		        Centre
 £m 		        Total
 £m 		 
Cost:            
At 1 January 2004 191   ––   114 153   1,011   ––   2,668 11,621   15,758
Currency translation and other adjustments ––   ––   (31 ) 1   ––   1   (529 ) ––   (558 )
Arising on acquisitions during the year 9   98   592 —   19   478   4,703 ––   5,899
Disposals ––   ––   –– ––   ––   ––   (20 ) ––   (20 )
At 31 December 2004 200   98   675 154   1,030   479   6,822 11,621   21,079
                                     
Amortisation:            
At 1 January 2004 14   ––   6 1   69   ––   331 2,206   2,627
Currency translation and other adjustments ––   ––   (1 ) ––   ––   1   (35 ) ––   (35 )
Charge for the year 12   2   23 8   57   23   209 581   915
Disposals ––   ––   –– ––   ––   ––   (4 ) ––   (4 )
At 31 December 2004 26   2   28 9   126   24   501 2,787   3,503
                                     
Net book value:            
At 31 December 2004 174   96   647 145   904   455   6,321 8,834   17,576
                                     
At 31 December 2003 177   ––   108 152   942   ––   2,337 9,415   13,131

(b) Geographical segments

The geographical analyses in the tables below have been compiled on the basis of location of office where the transactions are recorded.

2004 UK
 £m		   USA
 £m		   Europe
 £m		   Rest of
 the World
 £m		   Total
 £m
Interest receivable 12,469   2,763   1,267   197   16,696
Dividend income 42   17   20   ––   79
Fees and commissions receivable 5,260   808   467   99   6,634
Dealing profits 1,113   821   18   36   1,988
Other operating income 1,504   92   255   4   1,855
General insurance premium income (net of reinsurance) 4,794   ––   150   ––   4,944
Gross income 25,182   4,501   2,177   336   32,196
                   
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 4,776   1,389   625   127   6,917
                   
Total assets 378,396   145,572   45,593   13,906   583,467
                   
Net assets 18,070   11,068   2,671   56   31,865

131





Notes on the accounts continued

49 Segmental analysis (continued)

2003* UK
 £m		   USA
 £m		   Europe
 £m		   Rest of
 the World
 £m		   Total
 £m
Interest receivable 10,780   2,142   942   134 13,998
Dividend income 33   7   18   — 58
Fees and commissions receivable 4,663   622   323   85 5,693
Dealing profits 1,004   717   39   33 1,793
Other operating income 1,432   86   132   — 1,650
General insurance premium income (net of reinsurance) 2,981   —   142   — 3,123
Gross income 20,893   3,574   1,596   252 26,315
                   
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 4,456   1,159   315   146 6,076
                   
Total assets 314,638   102,389   27,411   9,990 454,428
                   
Net assets 18,669   5,364   2,060   5 26,098
                   
2002*      
Interest receivable 10,372   2,240   837   112 13,561
Dividend income 32   10   16   — 58
Fees and commissions receivable 4,375   601   251   22 5,249
Dealing profits 736   649   42   35 1,462
Other operating income 1,346   32   40   (8 ) 1,410
General insurance premium income (net of reinsurance) 1,874   —   79   — 1,953
Gross income 18,735   3,532   1,265   161 23,693
                   
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax 3,928   618   340   (34 ) 4,852
                   
Total assets 279,478   102,532   25,354   3,674 411,038
                   
Net assets 19,098   4,056   1,917   — 25,071

*   restated (see page 85)

50 Directors’ remuneration

2004
 £000 		  2003
 £000
Non-executive directors – emoluments 874   759
Chairman and executive directors – emoluments 8,421   7,945
Chairman and executive directors  – contributions and allowances in respect of defined
                                                         contribution pension schemes 178   164
9,473   8,868
Chairman and executive directors – amounts receivable under long-term incentive plans 2,189   6,056
Chairman and executive directors – gains on exercise of share options 5   2
11,667   14,926
 

Retirement benefits are accruing to five directors (2003 – six) under defined benefit schemes, two (2003 – two) of whom also accrued benefits under defined contribution schemes.

The executive directors may also participate in the company’s executive share option, sharesave and option 2000 schemes and details of their interests in the company’s shares arising from their participation are contained on page 77. Details of the remuneration received by each director during the year and each directors’ pension arrangements are given on pages 76 to 79.

132





51 Transactions with directors, officers and others

(a) At 31 December 2004, the amounts outstanding in relation to transactions, arrangements and agreements entered into by authorised institutions in the Group were £234,265 in respect of loans to eight persons who were directors of the company (or persons connected with them) at any time during the financial period and £30,926 to one person who was an officer of the company at any time during the financial period.

(b) There were no contracts of significance to the business of the company and its subsidiaries which subsisted at 31 December 2004, or during the year then ended, in which any director of the company had a material interest.

52 Related party transactions

Subsidiary undertakings

In accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 8 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ (“FRS 8”), transactions or balances between Group entities that have been eliminated on consolidation are not reported.

Investments

Group members provide development and other types of capital support to businesses in their roles as providers of finance. These investments are made in the normal course of business and on arm’s-length terms depending on their nature. In some instances, the investment may extend to ownership or control over 20% or more of the voting rights of the investee company. However, these investments are not considered to give rise to transactions of a materiality requiring disclosure under FRS 8.

Pension Fund

The Group recharges The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund with the cost of administration services incurred by it. The amounts involved are not material to the Group.

53 Significant differences between UK and US generally accepted accounting principles

The consolidated financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with UK generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that differ in certain material respects from US GAAP. The significant differences are summarised as follows:

(a) Acquisition accounting

Under UK GAAP, all integration costs relating to acquisitions are expensed as post-acquisition expenses. Under US GAAP, certain restructuring and exit costs incurred in the acquired business are treated as liabilities assumed on acquisition and taken into account in the calculation of goodwill.

Under UK GAAP, provisional fair value adjustments made in the accounting year in which the acquisition occurs may be amended in the subsequent accounting year. Under US GAAP, the allocation of the cost of acquisition to the fair values of assets and liabilities is generally completed within 12 months of the date of acquisition.

(b) Intangible assets

Under the Group’s UK GAAP accounting policy, goodwill arising on acquisitions after 1 October 1998 is recognised as an asset and amortised on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful economic life. Impairment tests on goodwill are carried out at the end of the first full accounting period after its acquisition, and whenever there are indications of impairment. Goodwill arising on acquisitions before 1 October 1998 was deducted from reserves immediately. Under US GAAP, goodwill is recognised as an asset, and is not amortised. Under the transition rules of SFAS 142 ‘Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets’, no amortisation is charged on acquisitions made after 30 June 2001; amortisation is charged up to 31 December 2001 for other goodwill. All goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment at least annually. Certain amounts included in goodwill under UK GAAP are classified as intangible assets under US GAAP and amortised over their useful economic lives.

(c) Property revaluation and depreciation

The Group’s freehold and leasehold properties are carried at original cost or subsequent valuation. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is included in the Group’s reserves. Under US GAAP, revaluations of property are not permitted to be reflected in the financial statements.

Depreciation charged and gains or losses on disposal under UK GAAP are based on the revalued amount of freehold and long leasehold properties; no depreciation is charged on investment properties which are revalued annually. Under US GAAP, the depreciation charge and gains or losses on disposal are based on the historical cost for all properties.

(d) Leasehold property provisions

Under UK GAAP, provisions are raised on leasehold properties when there is a commitment to vacate the property. US GAAP requires provisions to be recognised at the time the property is vacated.

(e) Dividends

Under UK GAAP, dividends are recorded in the period to which they relate, whereas under US GAAP dividends are recorded in the period in which they are declared.

(f) Loan origination

Under UK GAAP, certain loan fees are recognised when received. Under US GAAP, applicable non-refundable loan fees and certain direct costs are deferred and recognised over the period of the related loan or facility.

(g) Pension costs

Under UK GAAP, pension assets are measured at their fair value and scheme liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit method and discounted at the current rate of return on a high quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency. Any surplus or deficit of

133





Notes on the accounts continued

53 Significant differences between UK and US generally accepted accounting principles (continued)

scheme assets compared with liabilities is recognised in the balance sheet as an asset (surplus) or liability (deficit). An asset is only recognised to the extent that the surplus can be recovered through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the scheme. US GAAP requires a similar method but allows a certain portion of actuarial gains and losses to be deferred and allocated in equal amounts over the average remaining service lives of current employees. A minimum additional liability must be recognised if the accumulated benefit obligation (the current value of accrued benefits without allowance for future salary increases) exceeds the fair value of plan assets and the Group has recorded a prepaid pension costs or has an accrued liability that is less than the unfunded accumulated benefit. Movements in the minimum additional liability, together with the related deferred tax, are recognised through other comprehensive income.

(h) Long-term assurance business

The shareholders’ interest in the long-term assurance fund is valued as the discounted value of the cash flows expected to be generated from in-force policies together with net assets in excess of the statutory liabilities. Under US GAAP, for traditional business, premiums are recognised as revenue when due from the policyholders. Costs of claims are recognised when insured events occur. A liability for future policy benefits is established based upon the present value of future benefits less the present value of future net premiums. Acquisition costs for traditional business contracts are charged to the profit and loss account in proportion to premium revenue recognised. For unit-linked business, premiums and front-end load-type charges receivable from customers and acquisition costs relating to the acquisition of new contracts are capitalised and depreciated in proportion to the present value of estimated gross profits. Costs of claims are recognised when insured events occur.

(i) Extinguishment of liabilities

Under UK GAAP, recognition of a financial liability ceases once any transfer of economic benefits to the creditor is no longer likely. Under US GAAP, a financial liability is derecognised only when the creditor is paid or the debtor is legally released from being the primary obligator under the liability, either judicially or by the creditor.

(j) Leasing

In accordance with UK GAAP, the Group’s accounting policy for finance lease income receivable is to allocate total gross earnings to accounting periods so as to give a constant periodic rate of return on the net cash investment, and certain operating lease assets are depreciated on a reverse-annuity basis. Under US GAAP, finance lease income is recognised so as to give a level rate of return on the investment in the lease but without taking into account the associated tax flows, and all operating lease assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis.

(k) Securities

Under UK GAAP, the Group’s debt securities and equity shares are classified as being held as investment securities or for dealing purposes. Investment securities are stated at cost less provision for any permanent diminution in value. Premiums and discounts on dated debt securities are amortised to interest income over the period to maturity. Securities held for dealing purposes are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in the profit and loss account. Under US GAAP, securities held by the Group’s private equity business are considered to be held by investment companies and are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value being reflected in net income. The Group’s other investment debt securities and marketable investment equity shares are classified as available-for-sale securities with unrealised gains and losses reported in a separate component of equity, except when the unrealised loss is considered other than temporary in which case the loss is included in net income. Under US GAAP, the Group recognises an other than temporary impairment on an available-for-sale equity share when its carrying value has exceeded its market value for more than twelve months.

(l) Derivatives and hedging activities

SFAS 133 ‘Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities’ was effective for the Group’s US GAAP information from 1 January 2001. The Group has not made changes in its use of non-trading derivatives to meet the hedge criteria of SFAS 133. As a result, from 1 January 2001, for US GAAP purposes, the Group’s portfolio of non-trading derivatives has been remeasured to fair value and changes in fair value reflected in net income. Under UK GAAP, these derivatives continue to be classified as non-trading and accounted for in accordance with the underlying transaction or transactions being hedged.

SFAS 133 does not permit a non-derivative financial instrument to be designated as the hedging instrument in a fair value hedge of the foreign exchange exposure of available-for-sale securities.

SFAS 133 also requires derivatives embedded in other financial instruments to be accounted for on a stand-alone basis if they have economic characteristics and risks that differ from those of the host instrument.

US GAAP does not permit a profit or loss to be recognised on transacting a derivative unless its valuation is based on observable market data. There is no similar requirement under UK GAAP. Inception profits and losses reflecting the application of the Group’s usual pricing methodologies are recognised as they arise.

(m) Software development costs

Under UK GAAP, most software development costs are written off as incurred. Under US GAAP, certain costs relating to software developed for own use that are incurred after 1 January 1999 are capitalised and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the software.

134





(n) Share-based compensation

Under UK GAAP, no compensation expense is recognised for the Group’s executive share option schemes, under which options are granted at the higher of nominal value and market value on the date of grant and for the Group’s Sharesave schemes, under which employees are granted options at a 20% discount to market value at date of grant. Under US GAAP, the compensation expense based on the options’ intrinsic value is charged to the profit and loss account over the period to their average vesting date.

(o) Consolidation

UK GAAP requires consolidation of entities controlled by an enterprise where control means the enterprise’s ability to direct the financial and operating policies of an entity with a view to gaining economic benefits. US GAAP requires consolidation by the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). An enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE if it will absorb a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both.

(p) Acceptances

Acceptances outstanding and the matching customers’ liabilities are not reflected in the consolidated balance sheet, but are disclosed as memorandum items. Under US GAAP, acceptances outstanding and the matching customers’ liabilities are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet.

(q) Offset arrangements

Under UK GAAP, debit and credit balances with the same counterparty are aggregated into a single item where there is a right to insist on net settlement and the debit balance matures no later than the credit balance. Under US GAAP, agreements and balances with the same counterparty may be offset only where they have the same settlement date specified at inception and there is an intention to set off.

(r) Deferred taxation

Accounting for deferred tax under UK GAAP is consistent with US GAAP except that deferred tax is not recognised under UK GAAP on certain timing differences resulting from the roll-over of gains on disposal of properties, but is provided under US GAAP on such differences.

Recent developments in US GAAP

The FASB issued SFAS 153 ‘Exchanges of Nonmonetary assets, an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29’ in December 2004. SFAS 153 provides for a general exception from fair value measurement for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. The Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after 15 June 2005 and is not expected to affect the Group's US GAAP reporting.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 123 (revised 2004) ‘Share-Based Payment’ which requires compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions to be recognised in the financial statements. The compensation cost will be based on the grant-date fair value of the equity issued and will be recognised over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. SFAS 123 (revised 2004) would be effective for the Group from 1 January 2006. Entities that use the fair value method for either recognition or disclosure under SFAS 123 will apply the revised Statement using a modified version of prospective application whereby for that portion of outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered, compensation cost will be based on the grant-date fair value calculated under SFAS 123 for either recognition or pro forma disclosures. For periods before the effective date, entities may elect to apply a modified version of retrospective application under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required by SFAS 123. The Group currently makes pro forma disclosures of the effect on net income of compensation costs determined under the fair value method of SFAS 123.

135





Notes on the accounts continued

53 Significant differences between UK and US generally accepted accounting principles (continued)

Selected figures in accordance with US GAAP

The following tables summarise the significant adjustments to consolidated net income available for ordinary shareholders and shareholders’ equity which would result from the application of US GAAP instead of UK GAAP. Where applicable, the adjustments are stated gross of tax with the tax effect shown separately in total.

Consolidated statement of income 2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders – UK GAAP 4,256 2,254 2,034
Adjustments in respect of:
       Acquisition accounting 66 33 —
       Amortisation of intangible assets 780 721 681
       Property revaluation and depreciation (69 ) (41 ) (18 )
       Leasehold property provisions (19 ) 83 —
       Loan origination (85 ) (47 ) (72 )
       Pension costs (285 ) (286 ) (121 )
       Long-term assurance business (27 ) (57 ) (37 )
       Extinguishment of liabilities (94 ) (84 ) —
       Leasing (35 ) (53 ) (71 )
       Securities (170 ) 49 —
       Derivatives and hedging (437 ) 232 770
       Software development costs (261 ) (300 ) 283
       Share-based payment (26 ) (32 ) —
       Consolidation (29 ) (60 ) —
       Tax effect on the above adjustments 395 165 (261 )
       Deferred taxation (12 ) (13 ) (80 )
Net income available for ordinary shareholders – US GAAP 3,948 2,564 3,108


Consolidated shareholders’ equity 2004
£m		   2003
£m
Shareholders’ funds – UK GAAP 31,865 26,098
Adjustments in respect of:
       Acquisition accounting 517 451
       Intangible assets 3,002 2,222
       Property revaluation and depreciation (262 ) (249 )
       Leasehold property provisions 64 83
       Proposed dividend 1,308 1,059
       Loan origination (373 ) (288 )
       Pension costs 190 2,828
       Long-term assurance business (205 ) (178 )
       Extinguishment of liabilities (178 ) (84 )
       Leasing (253 ) (218 )
       Securities 134 232
       Derivatives and hedging 238 161
       Software development costs 399 660
       Share-based payment (58 ) (32 )
       Consolidation (89 ) (60 )
       Tax effect on cumulative UK/US GAAP adjustments (733 ) (1,128 )
       Tax effect on other comprehensive income 684 155
       Deferred tax (59 ) (47 )
Shareholders’ equity – US GAAP 36,191 31,665

Prior periods have been restated following the implementation of FRS 17 and the reclassification of perpetual regulatory securities.

Total assets under US GAAP, adjusted to reflect the consolidation of variable interest entities, inclusion of acceptances, provisions for contingent liabilities and commitments, the fair value of financial guarantees and the grossing-up of certain netting arrangements under UK GAAP, together with the effect of adjustments made to net income and shareholders’ funds, were £631 billion (2003 – £488 billion).

136





Earnings per share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) under US GAAP differ from UK GAAP only to the extent that the income calculated under US GAAP differs from that under UK GAAP.

  2004 2003 2002
 
  Income*
 £m		   No. of
 shares
 million		   Per share
 amount
 pence		 Income*
 £m		   No. of
 shares
 million		   Per share
 amount
 pence		 Income*
 £m		   No. of
 shares
 million		   Per share
 amount
 pence
Basic EPS 3,948   3,085   128.0 2,564   2,931   87.5 3,108   2,881   107.9
Dilutive effect of share options and            
convertible preference shares 66   73   (0.9 ) —   22   (0.7 ) —   43   (1.6 )
Diluted EPS 4,014   3,158   127.1 2,564   2,953   86.8 3,108   2,924   106.3

*   US GAAP net income available to ordinary shareholders, see page 136.

The Group has convertible preference shares totalling £200 million (2003 and 2002 – £200 million), €750 million (2003 and 2002 – €750 million) and $1,900 million (2003 and 2002 –$1,900 million). All of the convertible preference shares, with the exception of $1,500 million, have a dilutive effect in the current year and as such have been included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Outstanding options to purchase shares are excluded from the computation of diluted EPS where the exercise prices of the options are greater than the average market price of the ordinary shares during the relevant period. At 31 December 2004, there were 8.7 million such options outstanding (2003 –5.2 million; 2002 – 3.8 million).

Pensions

On 1 April 2002, the Group’s main pension schemes, The Royal Bank of Scotland Staff Pension Scheme and the National Westminster Bank Pension Fund, were merged to form The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund (“the plan”). The provisions of SFAS 87 ‘Employers’ Accounting for Pensions’ have been applied to the plan, which covers most of the Group’s UK employees; the impact of US GAAP on the other Group schemes is considered to be immaterial.

A trust fund has been established under the plan, to which payments are made, determined on an actuarial basis, designed to build up reserves during the working life of full-time employees to pay such employees or their dependants a pension after retirement. Such pensions are based on final pensionable salaries and are related to the length of service prior to retirement. Pensions are limited to a maximum of two-thirds of final salary for 40 years service or more. Staff do not make contributions for basic pensions but may make voluntary contributions on a regular basis to purchase additional service qualification where less than 40 years service will have been completed by normal retirement age.

The assets of the plan are held under separate trusts and, in the long-term, the funding policy is to maintain assets sufficient to cover the benefits in respect of service to date, with due allowance for future earnings increases. The plan assets consist mainly of fixed-income securities and listed securities. The investment policy followed for the plan seeks to deploy the plan assets primarily in UK and overseas equity shares and UK government securities.

Disclosures required by SFAS 132R for the Group’s main scheme are set out below.

Obligations and funded status

Change in benefit obligation: 2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year 13,963 12,526 12,198
Service cost 420 340 303
Interest cost 768 706 715
Net actuarial loss/(gain) 1,568 902 (217 )
Benefits and expenses paid (527 ) (511 ) (473 )
Projected benefit obligation at year end 16,192 13,963 12,526
             
Change in plan assets: 2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 11,822 10,682 12,567
Actual return on plan assets 1,234 1,559 (1,521 )
Employer’s contribution 1,069 92 109
Benefits and expenses paid (527 ) (511 ) (473 )
Market value of plan assets at year end 13,598 11,822 10,682

137





Notes on the accounts continued

53 Significant differences between UK and US generally accepted accounting principles (continued)

Pensions (continued)

Prepaid pension cost: 2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		  
Funded status (2,594 ) (2,141 ) (1,844 )
Unrecognised net actuarial loss 5,990 5,078 5,266
Unrecognised prior service cost 12 13 14
Unrecognised transition amount (6 ) (14 ) (22 )
Prepaid pension cost at year end 3,402 2,936 3,414
           
           
Components of net periodic pension cost: 2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Service cost 420 340 303
Interest cost 768 706 715
Expected return on plan assets (840 ) (757 ) (901 )
Amortisation of prior service cost 1 1 1
Amortisation of loss 263 287 138
Amortisation of net transition asset (8 ) (8 ) (8 )
Net periodic pension cost 604 569 248

Assumptions

Weighted average assumptions used at 31 December: 2004
% per annum		   2003
% per annum		   2002
% per annum		  
Discount rate for liabilities 5.40   5.60   5.75  
Salary increases 3.95   3.95   3.50  
Pension increases 2.70   2.70   2.25  
Long-term rate of return on assets 6.95   7.20   7.20  
             
             
           
Weighted-average allocations of market value of plan assets at 31 December: 2004
%		   2003
%		   2002
%		  
Equity shares 57   65   67  
Debt securities 31   32   31  
Other 12   3   2  
Total 100   100   100  

At 31 December 2004, the fund's accumulated benefit obligation was underfunded by £561 million (2002 – £168 million). This resulted in a reduction in the accumulated other comprehensive income component of US GAAP shareholders' equity of £3,951 million (2002 – £3,568 million), comprising the excess of the accumulated benefit obligation over the market value of assets of £561 million (2002 – £168 million), prepaid pension cost of £3,402 million (2002 – £3,414 million) less unrecognised prior service cost of £12 million (2002 – £14 million). This was reduced by deferred tax of £1,185 million (2002 – £1,070 million). At 31 December 2003, the fund had a surplus of assets over its accumulated benefit obligation and no minimum liability was recognised.

Cash flows

The following pension payments under the main scheme, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:

£m
2005 511
2006 521
2007 530
2008 543
2009 557
After 2010 3,072

The Group expects to contribute £376 million to its main UK pension plan in 2005.

138





Loan impairment

At 31 December 2004 and 2003, the Group estimated that the difference between the carrying value of its loan portfolio under US GAAP and its value in the Group’s UK GAAP financial statements was such that no adjustment to net income or consolidated shareholders’ equity was required. At 31 December 2004, the Group’s non-accrual loans, loans past due 90 days and troubled debt restructurings amounted to £5,529 million (2003 – £5,157 million). Specific provisions of £3,602 million (2003 – £2,782 million) were held against these loans. Average non-accrual loans, loans past due 90 days and troubled debt restructurings for the year to 31 December 2004 were £5,313 million (2003 – £5,166 million).

Gross interest income not recognised, but which would have been recognised under the original terms of non-accrual and restructured loans, amounted to £237 million for the year ended 31 December 2004 (2003 – £237 million; 2002 – £234 million) from domestic loans and £58 million for the year ended 31 December 2004 (2003 – £55 million; 2002 – £73 million) from foreign loans. Interest on non-accrual and restructured loans included in net income was £58 million for the year ended 31 December 2004 (2003 – £60 million; 2002 – £47 million) from domestic loans and £7 million for the year ended 31 December 2004 (2003 – £3 million; 2002 – £7 million) from foreign loans.

Securities

During 2004, net gains of £2 million were included in US GAAP net income from transfers of securities from the available-for-sale category into the trading category. For 2004, net unrealised losses of £924 million on available-for-sale securities were included in US GAAP other comprehensive income and £672 million was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into US GAAP net income.

The table below shows the fair value of available-for-sale securities that were in an unrealised loss position at 31 December 2004.

      Less than 12 months   More than 12 months   Total
     
 
 
Issued by Number
 of issues		   Fair value
 £m		   Gross
 unrealised
 losses
 £m		   Fair value
 £m		   Gross
 unrealised
 losses
 £m		   Fair value
 £m		   Gross
 unrealised
 losses
 £m
UK government   —   —   512   20   512   20
US treasury and government and            
    securities issued by US states   507   24   —   —   507   24
Other government   855   18   47   2   902   20
Corporate debt securities   73   4   75   5   148   9
Mortgage-backed securities   3,651   66   906   28   4,557   94
Bank and building society   29   4   51   1   80   5
Other   8   1   —   —   8   1
Available-for-sale debt securities 516   5,123   117   1,591   56   6,714   173

The Group considers that unrealised losses on available-for-sale debt securities are temporary principally because they reflect changes in benchmark interest rates. In 2004, other than temporary losses of £78 million have been recognised in net income on available-for-sale equity shares.

139





Notes on the accounts continued

53 Significant differences between UK and US generally accepted accounting principles (continued)

Cash flow statements

There are many similarities between SFAS 95, ‘Statement of Cash Flows’ as amended by SFAS 104 ‘Statement of Cash Flows – Net Reporting of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments and Classification of Cash Flows from Hedging Transactions’, and FRS 1 ‘Cash Flow Statements’ (Revised). The principal differences are the classifications of certain transactions.

Classification under FRS 1   Classification under SFAS 95
Equity dividends paid Equity dividends paid   Financing activities
Dividends paid on non-equity shares Returns on investments and   Financing activities
    servicing of finance  
Tax paid Taxation   Operating activities
Purchase and sale of associated and Acquisitions and disposals   Investing activities
     subsidiary undertakings  
Purchase and sale of investment securities Capital expenditure and   Investing activities
     and fixed assets     financial investment  
Net change in loans and advances, Operating activities   Investing activities
       including finance lease receivables  
Net change in deposits Operating activities   Financing activities
Net change in debt securities in issue Operating activities   Financing activities
Short-term funding not Operating activities   Financing activities
     included in cash  

Summary consolidated statements of cash flows presented on a US GAAP basis for each of the three years ended 31 December 2004 are set out below:

2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Cash flows from operating activities 8,062 8,534 11,008
Cash flows from investing activities (82,113 ) (31,879 ) (44,892 )
Cash flows from financing activities 77,644 34,872 37,245
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (807 ) (863 ) (115 )
Change in cash and cash equivalents 2,786 10,664 3,246
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 20,937 10,273 7,027
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year 23,723 20,937 10,273

The composition of cash at 31 December 2004, 2003 and 2002 and the movement in cash for the years then ended are shown in Note 47 and Note 48 on the accounts respectively.

Stock-based compensation costs

The Group grants share options to executive officers under an executive share option scheme (the “executive scheme”) and to employees under a savings-related sharesave scheme (the “savings scheme”) and the option 2000 scheme.

Executive scheme

Under the terms of the executive scheme, senior management employees and executive directors of Group companies may participate in the executive scheme at the discretion of the Board of directors of the company. The executive scheme involves a participant being granted an option to subscribe for ordinary shares of the company at the higher of nominal value and market value of ordinary shares on the date of grant. Normally, options may be granted only within six weeks after the announcement of final or interim results of the Group for any particular year. Options may not be transferred or assigned. A participant may not be granted options over new shares to the extent that the aggregate subscription price would exceed four times his compensation. Options granted under the executive scheme are issued on a UK Inland Revenue approved or unapproved basis. Options are exercisable between the third and tenth anniversaries of the grant date, only if performance criteria are met. For options granted from 1996 to 1998, the criterion is the average growth in adjusted earnings per ordinary share to exceed the average increase in the UK Retail Prices Index by 2% per annum over a three year period. For options granted since 1999, the relevant percentage has been increased to 3% per annum.

140





Savings scheme

Under the Inland Revenue rules, a participant in a savings scheme is permitted to make a maximum monthly saving of £250 under approved savings schemes. Employees of Group companies in the UK and Ireland and certain offshore jurisdictions are offered participation in the savings scheme. Participants can make monthly savings for a period of three, five or seven years. Options may be granted at not less than 80% of the average market value of ordinary shares of the company by reference to dealings in the ordinary shares over the last three trading days of the week immediately preceding the date of an invitation to participate, or, if higher, at par. Options comprise, as nearly as possible, such number of ordinary shares as may be purchased at the option price with the proceeds on maturity after either three, five or seven years of the savings contract, and options may normally be exercised only within six months after the third, fifth or seventh anniversary of the savings contract. Options may not be transferred or assigned.

Option 2000 scheme

On 9 August 2000 and again on 4 April 2001, every qualifying permanent member of staff in the Group received an option over 150 shares in the company. The executive directors of the company waived their entitlement to the option granted on 4 April 2001. Further grants over 150 shares have been made on three separate occasions to employees joining the Group by way of acquisition, including a grant on 1 September 2004 to all employees of Charter One.

Under the scheme, options are granted at the market value of ordinary shares at the date of grant and may normally be exercised only between the third and sixth anniversary of the date of grant.

Limitations of the option schemes:

(i)      During a ten year period, no more than 10% in aggregate of the issued ordinary share capital of the company from time to time may be issued pursuant to all of the employee share schemes operated by the company.
   
(ii)      During a five year period, no more than 5% in aggregate of the issued ordinary share capital of the company from time to time may be issued pursuant to all of the employee share schemes operated by the company.
   
(iii)      During a ten year period, no more than 5% in aggregate of the issued ordinary share capital of the company from time to time may be issued pursuant to the executive scheme.
   
(iv)      During a four year period, no more than 2 ½% in aggregate of the issued ordinary share capital of the company from time to time may be issued pursuant to the executive scheme.
   
(v)      During a three year period, no more than 3% in aggregate of the issued ordinary share capital of the company from time to time may be issued pursuant to the executive scheme.

The following is a summary of outstanding options under the various schemes:

  Savings scheme   Executive scheme   Option 2000 scheme   Total
 
 
 
 
  Number
 of
 options
 000’s		 Weighted
 average
 exercise price
 pence		   Number
 of
 options
 000’s		 Weighted
 average
 exercise price
 pence		   Number
 of
 options
 000’s		 Weighted
 average
 exercise price
 pence		   Number
 of
 options
 000’s		 Weighted
 average
 exercise price
 pence
At 1 January 2002 51,604 829   12,033 996   26,584 1399   90,221 1019
Granted 12,419 1235   2,096 1810   620 1841   15,135 1339
Exercised (12,112 ) 493   (3,160 ) 729   (5 ) 1380   (15,277 ) 542
Forfeited (2,271 ) 1025   (145 ) 940   (1,313 ) 1419   (3,729 ) 1160
At 31 December 2002 49,640 1003   10,824 1232   25,886 1409   86,350 1153
Granted 9,100 1307   4,073 1347   1,363 1590   14,536 1345
Exercised (11,902 ) 747   (1,299 ) 798   (6,380 ) 1240   (19,581 ) 911
Forfeited (2,715 ) 1117   (76 ) 1251   (1,603 ) 1459   (4,394 ) 1244
At 31 December 2003 44,123 1128   13,522 1308   19,266 1474   76,911 1246
Granted 11,216 1205   4,341 1723   1,269 1553   16,826 1365
Exercised (10,675 ) 883   (1,079 ) 994   (6,715 ) 1439   (18,469 ) 1092
Forfeited (2,339 ) 1214   (171 ) 1298   (948 ) 1428   (3,458 ) 1277
At 31 December 2004 42,325 1205   16,613 1437   12,872 1503   71,810 1312

In 2004, awards totalling 373,140 options (2003 – 341,269; 2002 – 59,869) with negligible exercise prices and 93,367 shares (2003 – 59,525; 2002 – nil) were made under the Group’s medium-term performance plan. Under the plan, the amount of shares or options that vest ranges from nil to 200% of the award depending on the annual growth in the Group’s earnings per share and its performance relative to that of a comparator group of companies principally from the UK financial services sector.

141





Notes on the accounts continued

53 Significant differences between UK and US generally accepted accounting principles (continued)

Stock-based compensation costs (continued)

The following table shows options outstanding by normal exercise date. An option life of 5 years, being the midpoint on the 10 year option, has been assumed for options granted under Group and former NatWest executive plans.

  2004   2003   2002
 
 
 
Year exercisable Number
 of
 options
 000’s		 Weighted
 average
 exercise price
 pence		   Number
 of
 options
 000’s		 Weighted
 average
 exercise price
 pence		   Number
 of
 options
 000’s		 Weighted
 average
 exercise price
 pence
2003 —   —   —   —   27,769   963
2004 —   —   31,817   1188   25,553   1226
2005 26,117   1214   14,081   1112   15,473   1118
2006 10,832   1421   11,822   1421   6,924   1447
2007 14,360   1324   8,785   1351   9,265   1343
2008 8,760   1327   9,110   1328   494   1364
2009 10,549   1423   809   1235   872   1235
2010 429   1307   487   1307   —   —
2011 763   1209   —   —   —   —
Total 71,810   1312   76,911   1246   86,350   1153

If the compensation cost for the schemes had been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates consistent with the fair value method of SFAS 123, net income and earnings per share as adjusted to include stock compensation would have been as shown below:

2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Net income under US GAAP:
As reported 3,948 2,564 3,108
Adjusted to include stock compensation 3,909 2,503 2,978
             
Basic earnings per share under US GAAP:
As reported 128.0 p 87.5 p 107.9 p
Adjusted to include stock compensation 126.7 p 85.4 p 103.4 p
             
Diluted earnings per share under US GAAP:
As reported 127.1 p 86.8 p 106.3 p
Adjusted to include stock compensation 125.9 p 84.8 p 101.8 p

The fair value of each option has been estimated as at the grant date using a Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions:

2004   2003   2002
Risk free interest rate 4.8%– 5.2% 3.6%– 4.6% 4.7%–4.9%
Volatility based on historical data 18%   29%   43%  
Dividend yield 3.3%– 3.7% 2.9%–4.1% 2.4%–2.9%
Expected lives of options granted under:
Employee savings scheme 3, 5 and 7 years 3, 5 and 7 years 3, 5 and 7 years
Executive scheme 3 to 10 years 3 to 10 years 3 to 10 years
Option 2000 scheme 3 years 3 years 3 years

The following table summarises fair values of options issued in each year:

  2004   2003   2002
 
 
 
  Exercise price
 £		   Fair value
 £		   Life
Years 		  Exercise price
 £		   Fair value
 £		   Life
Years 		  Exercise price
 £		   Fair value
 £		   Life
Years
Executive scheme (1) 16.98   2.85   3 -10   13.48   2.91   3 -10   18.10   6.54   3 -10
Savings scheme                
      3 year 13.07   3.83   3   13.07   4.64   3   12.35   5.58   3
      5 year 13.07   4.09   5   13.07   5.15   5   12.35   6.33   5
      7 year 13.07   4.24   7   13.07   5.48   7   12.35   6.76   7
Option 2000 scheme 15.53   1.93   3   15.90   2.91   3   18.41   5.44   3

  Note:
(1)      For the purposes of calculating a fair value on executive scheme options, an option life of 5 years, being the mid-point on the 10 year option, has been assumed. Historical exercise trends have not been used as these are not felt to be indicative of future trends given changes to the scheme rules and participants in the scheme.
   

142





Goodwill and intangible assets other than goodwill

The Group fully implemented SFAS 142 ‘Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets’ from 1 January 2002. Under this standard, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortised and are subject to annual impairment tests. Other intangible assets continue to be amortised over their useful lives. The Group has completed the impairment tests required under SFAS 142 and no impairment has been recognised as a result.

Intangible assets other than goodwill

A summary of the carrying value of intangible assets other than goodwill is as follows:

  2004   2003   2002
 
 
 
  Gross
 carrying
 amount
 £m		   Accumulated
 amortisation
 £m		   Net
 carrying
 amount
 £m		   Gross
 carrying
 amount
 £m		   Accumulated
 amortisation
 £m		   Net
 carrying
 amount
 £m		   Gross
 carrying
 amount
 £m		   Accumulated
 amortisation
 £m		   Net
 carrying
 amount
 £m
Core deposit intangibles 690   (205 ) 485   459   (149 ) 310   461   (108 ) 353
Brands 367   (3 ) 364   338   — 338   —   — —
Others 360   (39 ) 321   128   (6 ) 122   —   — —
Total amortising intangible assets 1,417   (247 ) 1,170   925   (155 ) 770   461   (108 ) 353

The weighted average amortisation period of intangible assets, other than goodwill, subject to amortisation are:

Years
Core deposit intangibles 7
Brands 10
Others 8

Amortisation charge on intangibles during 2004 was £115 million (2003 – £62 million; 2002 – £50 million). The Group estimates amortisation expense for the next five years will be:

£m
2005 146
2006 145
2007 141
2008 133
2009 123

Securitisations

The Group engages in securitisation activities pertaining to certain of its assets including US commercial and residential mortgage loans, commercial and residential mortgage related securities, US Government agency collateralised mortgage obligations, and other types of financial assets. Additionally, the Group acts as an underwriter and depositor in securitisation transactions involving both client and proprietary transactions. The Group has classified these activities into three broad securitisation categories, US Agency based, consumer based, and commercial based securitisations.

During 2004, the Group received proceeds of approximately £31.4 billion (2003 – £37.5 billion) from securitisation trusts in connection with new securitisations.

The Group recognised net pre-tax gains of approximately £111.1 million (2003 – £58.8 million) relating to these securitisations. Net pre-tax gains are based on the difference between the sales prices and previous carrying values of assets prior to date of sale, are net of transaction specific expenses, and exclude any results attributable to hedging activities, interest income, funding costs, changes in asset values prior to securitisation date, and retained interest values subsequent to securitisation date.

143





Notes on the accounts continued

53 Significant differences between UK and US generally accepted accounting principles (continued)

Securitisations (continued)

In some instances, the Group retained certain interests. The Group typically does not retain a significant portion of the loans or securities that it securitises. This reduces the impact that changes to fair values of retained interests might have on the Group’s financial results.

The Group’s retained interests may be subordinated to other investors’ interests. The investors and securitisation trusts have no recourse to the Group’s other assets for failure of debtors to perform on the securitised loans or securities. The value of the retained interests varies and is subject to prepayment, credit and interest rate risks on the transferred assets.

At 31 December 2004, the fair value of the Group’s retained interests was approximately £1.4 billion (2003 – £1.5 billion). These retained interests comprises approximately £509 million in US Agency based retained interests, £864 million in consumer based retained interests and £56 million in commercial based retained interests. These retained interests primarily relate to mortgage loans and securities and arose from securitisations that have taken place in current and prior years.

Cash flows received in 2004 from retained interests held at 31 December 2004 in connection with securitisations that took place in current and prior years amounted to approximately £383 million (2003 – £368 million).

Key economic assumptions used in measuring the value of retained interests at the date of securitisation resulting from securitisations completed during the year were as follows:

Assumptions U.S. Agency
 retained
 interests		   Consumer
 retained
 interests		   Commercial
 retained
 interests
Prepayment speed 184-480 PSA 4-45% CPR (1)   0-100 CPY (2)
Weighted average life 1-19 years 1-16 years   1-7 years
Cash flow discount rate 2-27% 2-78%   2-12%
Credit losses N/A (3)   0-2% CDR (4)   N/A (5)

Key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the current fair value of retained interests at 31 December 2004 to immediate adverse changes, as indicated below, in those assumptions are as follows:

Assumptions/impact on fair value U.S. Agency
 retained
 interests		   Consumer
 retained
 interests		   Commercial
 retained
 interests
Fair value of retained interests at 31 December 2004 £509m   £864m   £56m
           
Prepayment speed (6) 12-35% CPR (1) 4-45% CPR (1) 0-100% CPY (2)
      Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change £0.3m   £16.6m   ––
      Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change £0.4m   £32.8m   ––
           
Weighted average life 1-18 years 1-11 years 1-7 years
           
Cash flow discount rate 2-33% 2-78% 2-12%
      Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change £9.4m   £20.0m   £0.6m
      Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change £18.4m   £38.7m   £1.2m
           
Credit losses N/A(3)   0-2% CDR (4) N/A(5)
      Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change N/A £7.0m   N/A
      Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change N/A £14.3m   N/A

  Notes:
(1) Constant prepayment rate – the CPR range represents the low and high points of a dynamic CPR curve.
(2) CPR with yield maintenance provision.
(3) Population consists of securities whose collateral is guaranteed by US Government Sponsored Entities and therefore, no credit loss has been assumed.
(4) Constant default rate.
(5) Population consists of only investment grade senior tranches; therefore, no credit losses are included in the assumptions at deal settlement.
(6) Prepayment speed has been stressed on an overall portfolio basis for US Agency retained interests due to the overall homogeneous nature of the collateral. Consumer and Commercial retained interests have been stressed on a security level basis.

The sensitivities depicted in the preceding table are hypothetical and should be used with caution. The likelihood of those percent variations selected for sensitivity testing is not necessarily indicative of expected market movements because the relationship of the change in the assumptions to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of a retained interest is calculated without changing any other assumptions. This might not be the case in actual market conditions since changes in one factor might result in changes to other factors. Further, the sensitivities depicted above do not consider any corrective actions that the Group might take to mitigate the effect of any adverse changes in one or more key assumptions.

144





Consolidation

Special purpose entities (“SPEs”)

The Group is the primary beneficiary of a number of commercial paper conduits and other asset securitisation vehicles that meet FIN 46R’s definition of a variable interest entity. These entities, with total assets of £8.6 billion at 31 December 2004 (2003 – £6.9 billion), acquire financial assets from third parties or from the Group funded by the issue of commercial paper or other debt instruments. The Group supplies certain administrative services and provides credit enhancement, liquidity facilities and derivative transactions to some or all of these entities on an arm’s length basis. In the case of commercial paper conduits, the Group provides programme-wide credit enhancement by letters of credit or loan facilities across all tranches of assets funded by conduits.

Trust preferred securities

The trust preferred securities referred to in Note 32 on page 113 represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of trusts, which consist of partnership preferred securities representing non-cumulative perpetual preferred limited partnership interests issued by Delaware limited partnerships. The Group has provided subordinated guarantees for the benefit of the holders of the trust preferred securities and the partnership preferred securities. Under the terms of the guarantees, the Group has fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis, payments on such trust preferred securities and partnership preferred securities, to the extent they are due to be paid and have not been paid by, or on behalf of the trusts and the partnerships, as the case may be.

The trust preferred securities and partnership preferred securities issued by the Group’s subsidiaries are deconsolidated, resulting in a US GAAP balance sheet reclassification from minority interests to subordinated liabilities. The effect on US GAAP net income and equity is negligible.

54 The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (Parent Company Only)  
       
The following tables present the parent company only financial information:        
       
Condensed profit and loss account   2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
     Dividends receivable from subsidiary undertakings              
         - Banks   3,004   2,680   1,949  
   
 
     Total income   3,004   2,680   1,949  
     Net interest payable and operating expenses   110   94   34  
   
 
     Profit before tax   2,894   2,586   1,915  
     Tax on profit on ordinary activities   16   (33 ) (40 )
   
 
     Profit after tax   2,878   2,619   1,955  
     Non-equity dividends   256   1,724   1,103  
   
 
     Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders   2,622   895   852  
     Ordinary dividends   1,837   1,490   1,267  
   
 
     Retained profit / (loss)   785   (595 ) (415 )
   
 
               
Condensed balance sheet   2004
£m		   2003
£m		      
     
     Fixed assets              
     Investments:              
     Shares in Group undertakings              
         - Banks   36,286   30,862      
         - Other subsidiaries   584   1,492      
   
     
    36,870   32,354      
   
     
     Loans to Group undertakings              
         - Banks   2,914   3,289      
         - Other subsidiaries   1,187   1,265      
   
     
    4,101   4,554      
   
     
    40,971   36,908      
   
     
               
     Current assets              
     Due by subsidiary undertakings              
         - Banks   363   136      
         - Other subsidiaries   95   102      
     Debtors and prepayments   174   202      
   
     
    632   440      
   
     
     Creditors: due within one year   3,269   3,264      
   
     
     Net current liabilities   (2,637 ) (2,824 )    
   
     
     Total assets less current liabilities   38,334   34,084      
   
     
     Creditors : due after more than one year              
     Loans from subsidiary undertakings              
             - Banks   108   85      
             - Other subsidiaries   54   101      
     Loan capital including convertible debt   5,895   5,353      
   
     
    6,057   5,539      
               
     Shareholders' funds              
         - equity   27,757   25,622      
         - non-equity   4,520   2,923      
   
     
    38,334   34,084      
   
     
               
               
Condensed cash flow statement   2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		  
 
     Net cash inflow from operating activities   3,257   3,850   2,811  
     Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance   (571 ) (2,000 ) (1,246 )
     Net cash inflow from taxation   36   39   35  
     Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment   (7,035 ) (3,415 ) (1,849 )
     Ordinary equity dividends paid   (1,235 ) (772 ) (729 )
   
 
     Net cash outflow before financing   (5,548 ) (2,298 ) (978 )
     Net cash inflow from financing   5,628   1,853   1,380  
   
 
     Increase / (decrease) in cash   80   (445 ) 402  
   
 

55 Post balance sheet events

There have been no significant events between the year end and the date of approval of these accounts which would require a change to or disclosure in the accounts.

145




 

 

 

 

146





Additional information

Contents
     
148   Five year financial summary
     
152   Analysis of loans and advances to customers
   
153   Provisions for bad and doubtful debts
   
156   Risk elements in lending and potential problem loans
   
157   Analysis of deposits
     
158   Short term borrowings
     
158   Certificates of deposit and other time deposits
   
159   Exchange rates
     
160   Off balance sheet arrangements
     
162   Economic and monetary environment
   
162   Supervision and regulation
     
166   Description of property and equipment
   
166   Major shareholders
     
166   Material contracts

147





 

Additional information
 

Five year financial summary

The Group’s accounts are prepared in accordance with UK GAAP, which differs in certain material respects from US GAAP. For a discussion of such differences and a reconciliation between UK GAAP and US GAAP, see Note 53 on the accounts. The dollar financial information included below has been translated for convenience at the rate of £1.00 to US$1.916, the Noon Buying Rate on 31 December 2004.

Summary consolidated profit and loss account

  2004
$m		   2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		   2001
£m		   2000
£m
Amounts in accordance with UK GAAP (1) :          
Net interest income 17,643   9,208   8,301   7,849   6,846   5,286  
Non-interest income 25,954   13,546   10,980   9,167   7,712   5,709  
Total income 43,597   22,754   19,281   17,016   14,558   10,995  
Operating expenses (2, 3) 20,781   10,846   9,516   9,469   8,367   6,760
General insurance claims (net) 6,668   3,480   2,195   1,350   948   673  
Profit before provisions 16,148   8,428   7,570   6,197   5,243   3,562  
Provisions for bad and doubtful debts 2,736   1,428   1,461   1,286   984   550  
Amounts written off fixed asset investments 159   83   33   59   7   42  
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 13,253   6,917   6,076   4,852   4,252   2,970  
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 4,129   2,155   1,888   1,582   1,537   1,054  
Profit on ordinary activities after tax 9,124   4,762   4,188   3,270   2,715   1,916  
Minority interests (including non-equity) 479   250   210   133   90   50  
Preference dividends – non-equity 490   256   261   305   358   294  
8,155   4,256   3,717   2,832   2,267   1,572  
Additional Value Shares dividend – non-equity —   —   1,463   798   399   —  
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders 8,155   4,256   2,254   2,034   1,868   1,572  
                         
Amounts in accordance with US GAAP:          
Net income available for ordinary shareholders 7,564   3,948   2,564   3,108   2,062   2,102  

  Notes:
(1) The years ended 31 December 2003 and 2002 have been restated following the implementation of FRS 17. It is not practicable to restate prior years.
(2) Includes integration expenditure of £269 million for the year ended 31 December 2004 (2003 – £229 million; 2002 – £957 million; 2001 – £875 million; 2000 – £389 million).
(3) Including goodwill amortisation of £915 million for the year ended 31 December 2004 (2003 – £763 million; 2002 – £731 million; 2001 – £651 million; 2000 – £537 million).

148





Preference and other non-equity dividends

Amount per share 2004
 $m		   2004
 £m 		  2003
 £m		   2002
 £m		   2001
 £m		   2000
 £m
Non-cumulative preference shares of US$0.01            
       – Series B (1) —   —   0.13   1.65   1.73   1.67  
       – Series C (1) —   —   0.11   1.40   1.47   1.41  
       – Series D 2.05   1.11   1.23   1.34   1.41   1.35  
       – Series E 2.03   1.10   1.21   1.32   1.40   1.33  
       – Series F 1.91   1.04   1.15   1.25   1.31   1.26  
       – Series G 1.85   1.00   1.11   1.21   1.27   1.22  
       – Series H 1.81   0.98   1.09   1.18   1.24   1.19  
       – Series I 2.00   1.08   1.20   1.31   1.38   1.32  
       – Series J 2.13   1.15   1.27   1.39   1.46   1.40  
       – Series K 1.97   1.07   1.18   1.29   0.74   —  
       – Series L 0.37   0.19   —   —   —   —  
       – Series M 0.57   0.30   —   —   —   —  
Non-cumulative convertible          
       preference shares of US$ 0.01          
       – Series 1 91.18   49.05   54.89   59.15   62.70   50.22  
       – Series 2 88.17   47.43   53.08   57.20   60.63   48.57  
       – Series 3 78.16   41.74   45.57   49.81   53.74   5.24  
Non-cumulative convertible          
       preference shares of € 0.01          
       – Series 1 84.67   44.19   49.58   44.45   41.34   34.55  
Non-cumulative          
       preference shares of € 0.01          
       – Series 1 6.61   3.45   ––   ––   ––   ––  
Non-cumulative convertible          
       preference shares of £ 0.01          
       – Series 1 141.53   73.87   73.87   73.87   73.87   3.28  
Non-cumulative convertible          
         preference shares of £0.25 —   —   —   —   0.08   0.07  
Additional Value Shares of £0.01 —   —   0.55   0.30   0.15   —  

Ordinary dividends

Amount per share 2004
 cents		   2004
 pence 		  2003
 pence		   2002
 pence		   2001
 pence		   2000
 pence
Interim 32.2   16.8   14.6   12.7   11.0   9.5  
Proposed final 78.9   41.2   35.7   31.0   27.0   23.5  
Total dividends on equity shares 111.1   58.0   50.3   43.7   38.0   33.0  

  Notes:
(1) Redeemed on 30 January 2003.

For further information, see Notes 6 and 7 on the accounts.

149





Additional information continued

Summary consolidated balance sheet

  2004
$m		   2004
£m 		  2003
£m		   2002
£m		   2001
£m		     2000
£m
Amounts in accordance with UK GAAP (1) :          
Loans and advances to banks (net of provisions) 111,626   58,260   51,891   44,296   38,513     32,061  
Loans and advances to customers (net of provisions) 661,918   345,469   252,531   223,324   190,492     168,076  
Debt securities and equity shares 180,432   94,171   82,249   68,928   65,597     59,342  
Intangible fixed assets 33,676   17,576   13,131   12,697   13,325     12,080  
Other assets 130,271   67,991   54,626   61,793   60,932     48,510  
Total assets 1,117,923   583,467   454,428   411,038   368,859     320,069  
                           
Called up share capital 1,575   822   769   754   893     848  
Share premium account 24,839   12,964   8,175   7,608   7,465     6,530  
Other reserves 20,800   10,856   11,307   11,922   12,354     12,835  
Profit and loss account 13,839   7,223   5,847   4,787   5,956     2,786  
Shareholders’ funds 61,053   31,865   26,098   25,071   26,668     22,999  
Minority interests 7,337   3,829   2,713   1,839   585     546  
Subordinated liabilities 39,021   20,366   16,998   13,965   12,530     10,436  
Total capital resources 107,411   56,060   45,809   40,875   39,783     33,981  
Deposits by banks 189,839   99,081   67,323   54,720   40,038     35,130  
Customer accounts 546,179   285,062   236,963   219,161   198,995     177,302  
Debt securities in issue 112,967   58,960   41,016   33,938   30,669     19,407  
Other liabilities 161,527   84,304   63,317   62,344   59,374     54,249  
Total liabilities 1,117,923   583,467   454,428   411,038   368,859     320,069  
                           
Amounts in accordance with US GAAP:          
Shareholders’ equity 69,342   36,191   31,665   28,177   29,088     25,423  
Total assets 1,209,188   631,100   488,046   430,573   386,696     323,731  
 

  Notes:
(1) The data as at 31 December 2003 and 2002 has been restated following the implementation of FRS 17. It is not practicable to restate prior years.

150





Other financial data

2004     2003     2002     2001     2000
Other financial data based upon UK GAAP (1):        
Earnings per ordinary share – pence 138.0   76.9   70.6   67.6   66.9
Diluted earnings per ordinary share – pence (2) 136.9   76.3   69.6   66.3   66.2
Dividends per ordinary share – pence 58.0   50.3   43.7   38.0   33.0
Dividend payout ratio 43.2 %   66.1 %   62.3 %   58.1 %   56.1 %
Share price per ordinary share at period end – £ 17.52   16.46   14.88   16.72   15.82
Market capitalisation at period end – £bn 55.6   48.8   43.2   47.8   42.4
Net asset value per ordinary share – £ 8.62   7.82   7.43   7.79   7.08
Return on average total assets (3) 0.82 %   0.51 %   0.52 %   0.53 %   0.58 %
Return on average equity shareholders’ funds (4) 16.0 %   9.8 %   8.8 %   8.9 %   9.9 %
Average shareholders’ equity as a percentage        
       of average total assets 5.7 %   5.9 %   6.8 %   7.2 %   7.2 %
Risk asset ratio – Tier 1 7.0 %   7.4 %   7.3 %   7.1 %   6.9 %
Risk asset ratio – Total 11.7 %   11.8 %   11.7 %   11.5 %   11.5 %
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference          
       share dividends (5)        
       – including interest on deposits 1.84   1.95   1.74   1.49   1.32
       – excluding interest on deposits 7.09   7.08   5.20   4.45   3.49
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges only (5)        
       – including interest on deposits 1.90   2.04   1.83   1.55   1.37
       – excluding interest on deposits 9.26   9.73   7.24   6.52   4.81
Other financial data based upon US GAAP:        
Basic earnings per ordinary share – pence 128.0   87.5   107.9   74.7   89.5
Diluted earnings per ordinary share – pence (2) 127.1   86.8   106.3   73.2   88.5
Dividends per ordinary share – pence 52.5   45.6   39.7   34.5   29.8
Dividend payout ratio 40.2 %   51.9 %   36.7 %   45.7 %   20.6 %
Return on average total assets (3) 0.71 %   0.55 %   0.75 %   0.57 %   0.77 %
Return on average equity shareholders’ funds (4) 12.8 %   9.5 %   12.1 %   8.8 %   12.0 %
Average shareholders’ equity as a percentage        
       of average total assets 6.1 %   6.5 %   7.3 %   7.7 %   7.7 %
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference        
       share dividends (5)        
       – including interest on deposits 1.76   1.98   1.97   1.51   1.41
       – excluding interest on deposits 6.46   7.24   6.49   4.63   4.19
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges only (5)        
       – including interest on deposits 1.81   2.07   2.07   1.59   1.46
       – excluding interest on deposits 8.44   9.96   9.03   6.98   5.77

  Notes:
(1)      The years ended 31 December 2003 and 2002 have been restated following the implementation of FRS 17. It is not practicable to restate prior years.
(2)      Convertible preference shares totalling nil (2003 and 2002 – £200 million; 2001 and 2000 – £800 million), nil (2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 – €750 million) and $1,500 million (2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 – $1,900 million) have not been included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect is anti-dilutive.
(3)      Return on average total assets represents profit attributable to ordinary shareholders as a percentage of average total assets.
(4)      Return on average equity shareholders’ funds represents profit attributable to ordinary shareholders expressed as a percentage of average equity shareholders’ funds.
(5)      For this purpose, earnings consist of income before tax and minority interests, plus fixed charges less the unremitted income of associated undertakings (share of profits less dividends received). Fixed charges consist of total interest expense, including or excluding interest on deposits and debt securities in issue, as appropriate, and the proportion of rental expense deemed representative of the interest factor (one third of total rental expenses).
   

151





Additional information (continued)

Analysis of loans and advances to customers

The following table analyses loans and advances to customers before provisions by remaining maturity, geographical area and type of customer. Overdrafts are included in the ‘Within 1 year’ category.

  Within
1 year
£m		   After 1
but within
5 years
£m		   After
5 years
£m		   2004
Total
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		   2001
 £m		   2000
£m
UK              
Central and local government 1,670   95   101   1,866   1,217   1,521   706   1,957
Manufacturing 5,073   639   580   6,292   6,384   7,386   7,401   6,806
Construction 3,726   676   622   5,024   3,960   3,468   3,018   2,615
Finance 23,617   1,021   519   25,157   18,948   12,396   8,517   9,944
Service industries and              
       business activities 18,620   5,317   6,913   30,850   29,290   26,022   25,033   20,903
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 913   898   669   2,480   2,562   2,463   2,391   2,373
Property 19,794   2,673   3,978   26,445   19,670   15,939   12,274   10,415
Individuals – home mortgages 1,736   4,955   50,838   57,529   48,117   42,101   36,976   32,600
                   – other 14,072   7,965   5,826   27,863   25,526   22,255   20,076   17,881
Finance leases and instalment credit 2,534   4,506   6,043   13,083   11,703   11,723   11,258   10,816
Total domestic 91,755   28,745   76,089   196,589   167,377   145,274   127,650   116,310
Overseas residents 41,049   942   2,062   44,053   27,168   23,657   24,164   19,257
Total UK offices 132,804   29,687   78,151   240,642   194,545   168,931   151,814   135,567
                                         
Overseas              
US 32,518   16,624   24,903   74,045   40,373   41,008   29,230   23,050
Rest of the World 14,157   7,232   13,615   35,004   21,535   17,305   13,093   12,598
Total overseas offices 46,675   23,856   38,518   109,049   61,908   58,313   42,323   35,648
Loans and advances              
       to customers – gross 179,479   53,543   116,669   349,691   256,453   227,244   194,137   171,215
Provisions for bad and doubtful debts       (4,222 )   (3,922 )   (3,920 )   (3,645 )   (3,139 )
Loans and advances              
       to customers – net       345,469   252,531   223,324   190,492   168,076
                                         
Fixed rate 36,895   23,491   40,343   100,729   81,918   80,326   62,282   53,983
Variable rate 142,584   30,052   76,236   248,962   174,535   146,918   131,855   117,232
Gross loans and advances              
       to customers – by maturity 179,479   53,543   116,669   349,691   256,453   227,244   194,137   171,215
 

152






 

Provisions for bad and doubtful debts

For a discussion of the factors considered in determining the amount of the provisions, see ‘Provisions’ on page 47 and ‘Critical accounting polices – Provisions for bad and doubtful debts’ on page 7.

The following table shows the elements of provisions for bad and doubtful debts.

  2004
£m		     2003
£m		     2002
£m		     2001
£m		   2000
£m
Provisions at the beginning of the period        
Domestic 2,452   2,581   2,467   2,370   484
Foreign 1,477   1,346   1,186   783   332
3,929   3,927   3,653   3,153   816
Currency translation and other adjustments          
Domestic (8 )   (2 )   (4 )   4   (1 )
Foreign (90 )   (60 )   (58 )   13   43
(98 )   (62 )   (62 )   17   42
Acquisitions of businesses        
Domestic 2   –   11   83   1,871
Foreign 288   50   12   171   494
290   50   23   254   2,365
Amounts written-off        
Domestic (920 )   (1,097 )   (743 )   (645 )   (599 )
Foreign (548 )   (422 )   (293 )   (190 )   (185 )
(1,468 )   (1,519 )   (1,036 )   (835 )   (784 )
Recoveries of amounts written-off in previous periods          
Domestic 88   38   37   54   142
Foreign 59   34   26   26   22
147   72   63   80   164
Charged to profit and loss account        
Domestic 986   932   813   601   473
Foreign 442   529   473   383   77
1,428   1,461   1,286   984   550
Provisions at the end of the period (1)        
Domestic 2,600   2,452   2,581   2,467   2,370
Foreign 1,628   1,477   1,346   1,186   783
4,228   3,929   3,927   3,653   3,153
                             
Gross loans and advances to customers                  
Domestic 196,588   167,377   145,274   127,650   116,310
Foreign 153,103   89,076   81,970   66,487   54,905
349,691   256,453   227,244   194,137   171,215
Closing customer provisions as a % of gross loans          
      and advances to customers (2)        
Domestic 1.32 %   1.46 %   1.78 %   1.93 %   2.04 %
Foreign 1.06 %   1.65 %   1.63 %   1.77 %   1.40 %
Total 1.21 %   1.53 %   1.72 %   1.88 %   1.83 %
                             
Customer charge against profit as a % of gross loans          
      and advances to customers        
Domestic 0.50 %   0.56 %   0.56 %   0.47 %   0.41 %
Foreign 0.29 %   0.59 %   0.58 %   0.58 %   0.14 %
Total 0.41 %   0.57 %   0.57 %   0.51 %   0.32 %

  Notes:
(1) Includes closing provisions against loans and advances to banks of £6 million (2003 – £7 million; 2002 – £7 million; 2001 – £8 million; 2000 – £14 million).
(2) Closing customer provisions exclude closing provisions against loans and advances to banks.
   

153





Additional information (continued)

Provisions for bad and doubtful debts (continued)

The following table presents additional information with respect to the provisions for bad and doubtful debts.

  2004
£m		     2003
£m		     2002
£m		     2001
£m		   2000
£m
Loans and advances to customers (gross) 349,691   256,453   227,244   194,137   171,215
                             
Provisions at end of period:        
Specific provisions – customers 3,648   3,356   3,323   3,031   2,571
Specific provisions – banks 6   7   7   8   14
General provision 574   566   597   614   568
4,228   3,929   3,927   3,653   3,153
                             
Customer provision at end of period as % of loans and        
       advances to customers at end of period:        
Specific provisions 1.04 %   1.31 %   1.46 %   1.56 %   1.50 %
General provision 0.17 %   0.22 %   0.26 %   0.32 %   0.33 %
1.21 %   1.53 %   1.72 %   1.88 %   1.83 %
                             
Average loans and advances to customers (gross) 298,150   245,798   211,206   181,584   142,288
                             
As a % of average loans and advances to customers during the period:          
Total customer provisions charged to profit and loss 0.48 %   0.59 %   0.61 %   0.54 %   0.39 %
                             
Amounts written-off (net of recoveries) – customers 0.44 %   0.59 %   0.46 %   0.42 %   0.44 %

Analysis of closing provisions for bad and doubtful debts

The following table analyses customer provisions for bad and doubtful debts by geographical area and type of domestic customer.

  2004   2003   2002   2001   2000
 
 
 
 
 
  Closing
 provision
 £m		   % of loans
 to total
 loans
 %		   Closing
 provision
 £m		   % of loans
 to total
 loans
 %		   Closing
 provision
 £m		   % of loans
 to total
 loans
 %		   Closing
 provision
 £m		   % of loans
 to total
 loans
 %		   Closing
 provision
 £m		   % of loans
 to total
 loans
 %
Domestic                  
Central and local government —   0.5   —   0.5   —   0.6   —   0.4   —   1.1
Manufacturing 127   1.8   156   2.5   205   3.2   209   3.8   148   4.0
Construction 71   1.4   56   1.5   65   1.5   72   1.6   77   1.5
Finance 54   7.2   34   7.4   71   5.5   73   4.4   75   5.8
Service industries and business activities 516   8.8   599   11.4   699   11.5   627   12.9   665   12.2
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 23   0.7   20   1.0   29   1.1   31   1.2   33   1.4
Property 64   7.6   58   7.7   40   7.0   39   6.3   55   6.1
Individuals – home mortgages 32   16.5   35   18.8   60   18.5   53   19.1   35   19.0
Individuals – other 1,318   8.0   1,003   9.9   855   9.8   855   10.3   797   10.5
Finance leases and instalment credit 122   3.7   136   4.6   208   5.2   164   5.8   149   6.3
Total domestic 2,327   56.2   2,097   65.3   2,232   63.9   2,123   65.8   2,034   67.9
Foreign 1,321   43.8   1,259   34.7   1,091   36.1   908   34.2   537   32.1
Specific provisions 3,648   100.0   3,356   100.0   3,323   100.0   3,031   100.0   2,571   100.0
General provision 574     566     597     614     568  
Total provisions 4,222     3,922     3,920     3,645     3,139  

154





Analysis of write-offs

The following table analyses amounts written-off by geographical area and type of domestic customer.

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		   2001
£m		 2000
£m
Domestic        
Manufacturing 55   99   111   61   55
Construction 12   22   18   19   30
Finance 19   54   35   8   5
Service industries and business activities 163   393   180   176   146
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 9   4   10   5   5
Property 33   6   9   14   7
Individuals – home mortgages 4   2   2   3   12
Individuals – others 535   357   333   297   230
Finance leases and instalment credit 90   160   45   62   109
Total domestic 920   1,097   743   645   599
Foreign 548   422   293   190   185
Total write-offs* 1,468   1,519   1,036   835   784

* Includes amounts written-off in respect of banks of nil (2003 – nil; 2002 – £1 million; 2001 – £6 million; 2000 – £5 million).

Analysis of recoveries

The following table analyses recoveries of amounts written-off by geographical area and type of domestic customer.

  2004
 £m		   2003
 £m		   2002
 £m		   2001
 £m		 2000
 £m
Domestic        
Manufacturing 1   —   1   2   12
Construction —   —   —   1   13
Finance 2   —   —   1   3
Service industries and business activities 1   3   1   5   45
Agriculture, forestry and fishing —   —   —   —   3
Property —   —   1   1   6
Individuals – home mortgages 1   —   —   —   —
Individuals – others 81   26   27   41   57
Finance leases and instalment credit 2   9   7   3   3
Total domestic 88   38   37   54   142
Foreign 59   34   26   26   22
Total recoveries 147   72   63   80   164

155





Additional information (continued)

Risk elements in lending and potential problem loans

The Group’s loan control and review procedures do not include the classification of loans as non-accrual, accruing past due, restructured and potential problem loans, as defined by the SEC in the US. The following table shows the estimated amount of loans that would be reported using the SEC’s classifications. The figures incorporate estimates and are stated before deducting the value of security held or related provisions.

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		   2001
£m		 2000
£m
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis (3):
       Domestic 3,705 3,221 3,077 2,829 2,482
       Foreign 1,075 1,211 1,098 737 344
       Total 4,780 4,432 4,175 3,566 2,826
Accruing loans which are contractually overdue 90 days
   or more as to principal or interest (4):
       Domestic 646 561 363 643 662
       Foreign 79 81 129 142 168
       Total 725 642 492 785 830
Loans not included above which are classified
   as ‘troubled debt restructurings’ by the SEC:
       Domestic 14 53 144 26 43
       Foreign 10 30 60 116 122
       Total 24 83 204 142 165
Total risk elements in lending 5,529 5,157 4,871 4,493 3,821
Potential problem loans (5)
       Domestic 173 492 639 801 699
       Foreign 107 99 544 279 73
Total potential problem loans 280 591 1,183 1,080 772
Closing provisions for bad and doubtful debts as
   a % of total risk elements in lending 76 % 76 % 80 % 81 % 82 %
Closing provisions for bad and doubtful debts as a % of
    total risk elements in lending and potential problem loans 73 % 68 % 65 % 65 % 68 %
Risk elements in lending as a % of gross loans
   and advances to customers 1.58 % 2.01 % 2.14 % 2.31 % 2.23 %

  Notes:
(1) For the analysis above, ‘Domestic’ consists of the UK domestic transactions of the Group. ‘Foreign’ comprises the Group’s transactions conducted through offices outside the UK and through those offices in the UK specifically organised to service international banking transactions.
(2) The classification of a loan as non-accrual, past due 90 days or troubled debt restructuring does not necessarily indicate that the principal of the loan is uncollectable in whole or in part. Collection depends in each case on the individual circumstances of the loan, including the adequacy of any collateral securing the loan and therefore classification of a loan as non-accrual, past due 90 days or troubled debt restructuring does not always require that a provision be made against such a loan. In accordance with the Group’s provisioning policy for bad and doubtful debts, it is considered that adequate provisions for the above risk elements in lending have been made.
(3) The Group’s UK banking subsidiary undertakings account for loans on a non-accrual basis from the point in time at which the collectability of interest is in significant doubt. Certain subsidiary undertakings of the Group, principally Citizens, generally account for loans on a non-accrual basis when interest or principal is past due 90 days.
(4) Overdrafts generally have no fixed repayment schedule and consequently are not included in this category.
(5) Loans that are current as to the payment of principal and interest but in respect of which management has serious doubts about the ability of the borrower to comply with contractual repayment terms. Substantial security is held in respect of these loans and appropriate provisions have already been made in accordance with the Group’s provisioning policy for bad and doubtful debts.
   
  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m		   2001
£m		 2000
£m
Gross income not recognised but which would have been          
       recognised under the original terms of non-accrual and          
       restructured loans        
               Domestic 237   237   234   173   148
               Foreign 58   55   73   60   48
295   292   307   233   196
                   
Interest on non-accrual and restructured loans included in          
       net interest income        
               Domestic 58   60   47   42   30
               Foreign 7   3   7   14   8
65   63   54   56   38

156





Analysis of deposits – product analysis

The following table shows the distribution of the Group’s deposits by type and geographical area:

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
UK    
Domestic:    
Demand deposits – interest-free 22,249   20,567   22,067
Demand deposits – interest-bearing 78,178   78,670   66,118
Time deposits – savings 18,205   13,238   12,180
Time deposits – other 68,662   57,994   59,819
Overseas residents:    
Demand deposits – interest-free 376   830   908
Demand deposits – interest-bearing 12,740   9,559   8,897
Time deposits – savings 836   1,014   1,559
Time deposits – other 64,141   32,531   21,824
Total UK offices 265,387   214,403   193,372
Overseas    
Demand deposits – interest-free 10,371   7,937   6,698
Demand deposits – interest-bearing 12,975   7,471   10,148
Time deposits – savings 21,153   15,450   15,189
Time deposits – other 74,257   59,025   48,474
Total overseas offices (see below) 118,756   89,883   80,509
Total deposits 384,143   304,286   273,881
           
Banking business 303,328   251,986   230,144
Trading business 80,815   52,300   43,737
Total deposits 384,143   304,286   273,881
           
Overseas    
US 86,677   67,019   61,738
Rest of the World 32,079   22,864   18,771
Total overseas 118,756   89,883   80,509

Analysis of deposits – currency analysis

The following table shows the distribution of deposits by banks and customer accounts by sterling and other currencies:

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Deposits by banks    
Sterling 18,958   14,574   10,998
Other currencies 80,123   52,749   43,722
Total deposits by banks 99,081   67,323   54,720
           
Customer accounts    
Sterling 161,636   142,551   133,404
Other currencies 123,426   94,412   85,757
Total customer accounts 285,062   236,963   219,161
Total deposits 384,143   304,286   273,881

157





Additional information continued

Short term borrowings

  2004
£m		   2003
£m		   2002
£m
Commercial paper      
       Outstanding at year end 8,391 6,968 3,515
       Maximum outstanding at any month end during the year 8,391 7,032 3,515
       Approximate average amount during the year 7,450 5,499 868
       Approximate weighted average interest rate during the year 1.9 % 1.6 % 2.0 %
       Approximate weighted average interest rate at year end 2.6 % 1.5 % 1.6 %
             
Other short term borrowings
       Outstanding at year end 95,381 84,795 72,069
       Maximum outstanding at any month end during the year 96,356 94,570 72,264
       Approximate average amount during the year 85,496 78,004 58,246
       Approximate weighted average interest rate during the year 2.9 % 2.2 % 2.9 %
       Approximate weighted average interest rate at year end 3.1 % 2.0 % 2.2 %

Average interest rates during the year are computed by dividing total interest expense by the average amount borrowed. Average interest rates at year end are average rates for a single day and as such may reflect one-day market distortions which may not be indicative of generally prevailing rates. Original maturities of commercial paper are not in excess of one year. ‘Other short-term borrowings’ consist principally of borrowings in the money markets included within ‘Deposits by banks’ and ‘Customer accounts’ in the accounts, and generally have original maturities of one year or less.

Certificates of deposit and other time deposits

The following table shows details of the Group’s certificates of deposit and other time deposits over $100,000 or equivalent by remaining maturity.

  Within
 3 months
 £m 		  Over 3 months
 but within
 6 months
 £m 		  Over 6 months
 but within
 12 months
 £m 		  Over
 12 months
 £m 		    2004
 Total
 £m
UK based companies and branches        
Certificates of deposit 18,574   3,071   1,837   66   23,548
Other time deposits 116,623   6,468   6,051   3,224   132,366
                   
Overseas based companies and branches        
Certificates of deposit 6,703   2,674   1,719   1,594   12,690
Other time deposits 44,260   4,209   2,007   6,226   56,702
Total 186,160   16,422   11,614   11,110   225,306

158





Exchange rates

Except as stated, the following tables show, for the dates or periods indicated, the Noon Buying Rate in New York for cable transfers in sterling as certified for customs’ purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Noon Buying Rate”):


US dollars per £1 February
2005		   January
2005		     December
2004		     November
2004		     October
2004		     September
2004		    
Noon Buying Rate              
High 1.9249   1.9058   1.9482   1,9073   1.8404   1.8105  
Low 1.8570   1.8647   1.9125   1,8323   1.7790   1.7733  

  2004   2003   2002   2001   2000  
Noon Buying Rate        
Period end rate 1.9160   1.7842   1.6095   1.4543   1.4955  
Average rate for the period (1) 1.8356   1.6450   1.5043   1.4396   1.5204  
                   
Consolidation rate (2)        
Period end rate 1.9346   1.7857   1.6128   1.4498   1.4925  
Average rate for the period 1.8325   1.6354   1.5032   1.4401   1.5160  

  Notes:
(1) The average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each month during the period.
(2) The rates used by the Group for translating dollars into sterling in the preparation of its financial statements.
(3) On 29 March 2005, the Noon Buying Rate was £1.00 = $1.8752.
   

159





Additional information continued

Off balance sheet arrangements

The Group is involved with several types of off-balance sheet arrangements, including special purpose vehicles, lending commitments and financial guarantees.

Special purpose vehicles (“SPVs”)

SPVs are vehicles set up for a specific, limited purpose, do not carry out a business or trade and typically have no employees. They take a variety of legal forms – trusts, partnerships and companies – and fulfil many different functions. They constitute a key element of securitisation transactions in which an SPV acquires financial assets funded by the issue of securities.

In the normal course of business, the Group arranges securitisations to facilitate client transactions and undertakes securitisations to sell financial assets or to obtain funding. It has established a number of SPVs to act as commercial paper conduits for customers. SPVs are also utilised in its fund management activities to structure investment funds to which the Group provides investment management services.

Under UK GAAP, the Group accounts for securitisations of assets originated by the Group in accordance with FRS 5 ‘Reporting the Substance of Transactions’. Assets are derecognised and a gain or loss on disposal recognised if all significant rights or access to benefits relating to those assets and all significant risks in those benefits are transferred to others. In cases where there is a significant change in the entity’s rights to benefit and exposure to risk, the description or monetary amount relating to an asset should be changed and a liability recognised for any obligation to transfer benefits that is assumed. Where a transaction in previously recognised assets results in no significant change in the entity’s rights to benefits in the assets or its exposure to risks inherent in those benefits, the assets should continue to be recognised and no gain or loss recognised. FRS 5 requires a linked presentation where a transaction is in substance the financing of an asset or pool of assets but where the item is financed in such a way that the Group can suffer a loss which is limited to a fixed monetary amount. The linked presentation involves showing the gross amount of assets securitised less the related finance on the face of the balance sheet – the net amount is included in total assets. Profit is recognised on entering into the arrangement only to the extent that non-returnable proceeds exceed the previous carrying value of the assets securitised. The Group securitises mortgage loans and other assets.

Under US GAAP, transfers of financial assets are accounted for and reported based on the application of a financial-components approach that focuses on control. Under this approach, after a transfer of financial assets, the Group recognises the assets it controls and the liabilities it has incurred, derecognises financial assets when control has been surrendered, and derecognises liabilities when extinguished.

Transfers of financial assets where the Group has surrendered control over the transferred assets are accounted for as sales and any gain or loss recognised in earnings. Otherwise, transfers are accounted for as collateralised borrowings.

As financial intermediary, the Group arranges securitisations of client assets. These include multi-seller commercial paper conduits and client intermediation transactions. The Group has established a number of SPVs to act as commercial paper conduits. These allow customers to access liquidity in the commercial paper market by selling assets to the conduit that funds the purchase by issuing commercial paper to third parties. The Group supplies certain services and contingent liquidity support to some or all of these vehicles on an arm’s length basis as well as programme credit enhancement. Other client securitisations arranged by the Group involve individual SPVs established to purchase customer assets financed by the issue of debt obligations to third parties. The Group may act as advisor to the manager of the SPV and provide liquidity facilities to it.

Under UK GAAP the Group accounts for fees received from client securitisations in line with its usual policy for similar fees from other banking activities. Undrawn liquidity lines are included within undrawn commitments in Note 41 on page 124; any drawn amounts will be included in loans and advances. The assets and liabilities of the SPVs are not recognised on the Group’s balance sheet unless the SPV is a quasi-subsidiary of the Group. A quasi-subsidiary is defined in FRS 5 as ‘a company, trust, partnership or other vehicle, that, though not fulfilling the definition of a subsidiary, is directly or indirectly controlled by the reporting entity and gives rise to benefits for that entity that are in substance no different from those that would arise were the vehicle a subsidiary’.

Following the issue of FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 46 (revised), the Group has consolidated SPVs acting as commercial paper conduits and involved in other asset-backed transactions in its US GAAP disclosures. Further information on FIN 46R can be found in Note 53 on page 145.

Lending commitments and other commitments

Under a loan commitment, the Group agrees to make funds available to a customer in the future. Loan commitments, which are usually for a specified term, may be unconditionally cancellable or may persist, provided all conditions in the loan facility are satisfied or waived. Commitments to lend include commercial standby facilities and credit lines, liquidity facilities to commercial paper conduits and unutilised overdraft facilities. Other commitments include documentary credits, which are commercial letters of credit providing for payment by the Group to a named beneficiary against presentation of specified documents, forward asset purchases, forward deposits placed and undrawn note issuance and revolving underwriting facilities.

Guarantees and other contingent liabilities

The Group gives guarantees on behalf of customers. A financial guarantee represents an irrevocable undertaking that the Group will meet a customer’s obligations to third parties if the customer fails to do so. The maximum amount that the Group could be required to pay under a guarantee is its principal amount. The Group expects most guarantees it provides to expire unused. Other contingent liabilities include contingent liabilities arising out of acceptances, endorsements,

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standby letters of credit, performance and customs bonds, warranties and indemnities. In accepting a bill of exchange drawn on it by a customer a bank undertakes to pay the holder of the bill at maturity. Most acceptances are presented for payment and reimbursement by the customer is usually immediate. In the UK, bills accepted by certain banks designated by the Bank of England are eligible for rediscount at the Bank of England. In endorsing a bill of exchange, a bank accepts liability for payment of any shortfall on the bill at maturity. Unlike acceptances, the endorsing bank receives value for the bill, which is then rediscounted.

The Group’s contingent liabilities and commitments are set out below.

2004 Less than
 1 year
 £m		   More than
 1 year but
 less than
 3 years
 £m		   More than
 3 years but
 less than
 5 years
 £m		   Over
 5 years
 £m 		  Total
 £m
Acceptances and endorsements 362   —   —   —   362
Guarantees and assets pledged as collateral security 3,974   1,729   1,893   2,842   10,438
Other contingent liabilities 2,714   785   293   1,501   5,293
Documentary credits and trade related transactions 135   30   6   11   182
Undrawn formal standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend 118,367   23,045   21,216   16,602   179,230
Other commitments 746   385   —   234   1,365
Total 126,298   25,974   23,408   21,190   196,870


2003 Less than
 1 year
 £m		   More than
 1 year but
 less than
 3 years
 £m		   More than
 3 years but
 less than
 5 years
 £m		   Over
 5 years
 £m 		  Total
 £m
Acceptances and endorsements 595   —   —   —   595
Guarantees and assets pledged as collateral security 4,632   1,422   782   1,951   8,787
Other contingent liabilities 1,872   987   351   2,272   5,482
Documentary credits and trade related transactions 368   210   2   25   605
Undrawn formal standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend 95,062   18,082   14,053   10,054   137,251
Other commitments 1,304   476   15   42   1,837
Total 103,833   21,177   15,203   14,344   154,557

Contractual obligations

The table below summarises the Group’s contractual cash obligations by remaining maturity.

2004 Less than
 1 year
 £m		   More than
 1 year but
 less than
 3 years
 £m		   More than
 3 years but
 less than
 5 years
 £m		   Over
 5 years
 £m 		  Total
 £m
Contractual cash obligations        
Dated loan capital 371   527   2,863   7,252   11,013
Operating leases 328   597   535   2,246   3,706
Finance leases 17   38   11   126   192
Unconditional obligations to purchase goods or services 552   346   148   152   1,198
Total 1,268   1,508   3,557   9,776   16,109


2003 Less than
 1 year
 £m		   More than
 1 year but
 less than
 3 years
 £m		   More than
 3 years but
 less than
 5 years
 £m		   Over
 5 years
 £m 		  Total
 £m
Contractual cash obligations        
Dated loan capital 709   691   1,034   6,878   9,312
Operating leases 262   479   434   2,124   3,299
Finance leases 19   29   8   126   182
Unconditional obligations to purchase goods or services 661   211   3   —   875
Total 1,651   1,410   1,479   9,128   13,668

The tables above do not include undated loan capital. The maturity of deposits by banks is given in Note 23 on the accounts, of customer accounts in Note 24, and of debt securities in issue in Note 25.

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Additional information continued

Economic and monetary environment

Monetary policy

The Group’s earnings are affected by domestic and global economic conditions. The policies of the UK government, and of governments in other countries in which the Group operates, also have an impact.

The UK government sets an inflation target, which changed in December 2003 from a 2.5% target based on the retail prices index excluding mortgage interest payments to a 2% target based on the consumer prices index, in line with other European countries.

The Bank of England has operational independence in setting the repo rate to achieve the inflation target. The Bank was given independence by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1997, with the aim of making monetary policy free from political influence, and therefore more stable and credible. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee ("MPC") meets each month to agree any change to interest rates, and the minutes of these meetings are published two weeks later. One-off meetings can also be held in exceptional circumstances. In response to the downturn in the global economy and the terrorist attacks, the Bank of England, along with other major central banks around the world, cut rates sharply in 2001. Rates remained at exceptionally low levels throughout 2002, and were reduced again in the first half of 2003, reflecting the uncertain nature of the global and domestic economic circumstances. However, signs of recovery in the global economy led the Bank of England to increase rates five times since November 2003, to 4.75%.

The value of sterling is also important for UK monetary conditions. The monetary authorities do not have an exchange rate target, but movements in sterling played a role in the MPC’s monthly debates.

European Economic and Monetary Union (“EMU”)

The new European single currency, the euro, came into being on 1 January 1999. The third stage of EMU started on schedule on 1 January 1999. During the course of 1998, it was determined that eleven countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) would participate. The UK, along with Denmark, exercised its right to opt out at that stage, and Sweden also determined not to be part of this first wave.

On 31 December 1998, the European Currency Unit (the "ECU") was replaced by the euro on the international currency markets, on a one-for-one basis. The rates for the euro against other international currencies were based upon the official closing rates for the ECU. The bilateral rates for the legacy currencies of the participating states were derived from their rates within the Exchange Rate Mechanism and the closing value of the ECU. These rates, between the legacy currencies and between these currencies and the euro, were fixed as of 1 January 1999. The euro became the formal currency for all eleven then-participating states.

Euro notes and coins were introduced into circulation on 1 January 2002 in accordance with the Maastricht Treaty, which required that legacy currency notes and coins be withdrawn by 30 June 2002. Also on 1 January 1999, the European Central Bank ("ECB") assumed responsibility for the operation of monetary policy throughout the euro zone. The ECB sets one short-term interest rate to cover all twelve countries.

The UK government continues to support EMU entry in principle, but has decided the UK will not adopt the single currency until it is in the UK’s economic interests, with a positive referendum vote. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has laid down five key economic conditions for UK participation. An assessment of these five tests took place in June 2003, resulting in the publication of HM Treasury’s assessment, the 18 supporting EMU studies, and a third outline National Changeover Plan. While indicating that these five economic tests have yet to be fully met, the government has set out a programme of economic reforms and structural assessments necessary to achieve readiness for entry. The Chancellor made a progress statement in Budget 2004, at which point he decided not to undertake an immediate further assessment of the entry tests.

The Group continues to co-operate with the UK government, and to work within the financial services sector, to develop thinking and plans regarding a range of practical issues that would arise if the UK were to decide to enter EMU. In particular, the Group continues its involvement in discussions as to how a phased transition could be achieved, in order to minimise cost and risk. In addition, due attention is being paid to the implications, for elements of the Group and for customers, of the introduction of euro notes and coins and the withdrawal of sterling.

Uncertainty continues on the likelihood and timing of the euro being introduced in the UK. It is not possible to estimate with any degree of certainty the ultimate cost of making systems and operations fully compliant. Expenditure in the year ended 31 December 2004 in preparation for the possible introduction of the euro in the UK was minimal.

Supervision and regulation

1 United Kingdom

1.1     The regulatory regime applying to the UK financial services industry

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA 2000”), containing an integrated legislative framework for regulating most of the UK financial services industry, came into force at the end of 2001. This established the Financial Services Authority (the “FSA”) as the single statutory regulator responsible for regulating deposit taking, insurance and investment business in the UK.

Under the FSMA 2000, businesses require the FSA’s permission to undertake specified types of activities including entering into and carrying out contracts of insurance; managing, dealing in or advising on, investments; accepting deposits; and issuing electronic money (“regulated activities”). The FSA has published detailed regulatory requirements contained in a Handbook of Rules and Guidance.

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The FSA’s statutory objectives are to maintain confidence in, and to promote public understanding of, the UK financial system; to secure an appropriate degree of consumer protection; and to reduce the scope for financial crime. In achieving these objectives, the FSA must take account of certain “principles of good regulation” which include recognising the responsibilities of authorised firms’ own management, facilitating innovation and competition and acting proportionately in imposing burdens on the industry.

1.2     Authorised firms in the Group

As at 31 December 2004, 35 companies in the Group, spanning a range of financial services sectors (banking, insurance and investment business), are authorised and regulated to conduct regulated activities by the FSA. These companies are referred to as ‘authorised firms.’

The FSA supervises the banking business of the UK based banks in the Group, including The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (“The Royal Bank”), National Westminster Bank Plc (“NatWest”), Coutts & Co, Ulster Bank Limited and Tesco Personal Finance Limited.

General insurance business is principally undertaken by RBS Insurance Group, whilst life assurance business is undertaken by Royal Scottish Assurance plc and National Westminster Life Assurance Limited (with the Group’s partner, the AVIVA Group) and Direct Line Life Insurance Company Limited. Investment management business is principally undertaken by companies in the Wealth Management Division, including Adam & Co Investment Management Limited, and Coutts & Co Investment Management Limited, and in the Corporate Banking & Financial Markets Division, RBS Asset Management Ltd.

1.3     The FSA’s regulatory approach and supervisory standards

The regulatory regime focuses on the risks to the FSA of not meeting its statutory objectives and uses the full range of regulatory tools (including the authorisation of firms, rule-making, supervision, investigation and enforcement) available to the FSA. It is founded on a risk based, integrated approach to regulation.

The FSA can request information from and give directions to, authorised firms. It may also require authorised firms to provide independent reports prepared by professionals. The FSA can exercise indirect control over the holding companies of authorised firms via its statutory powers to object to persons who are, or will become, “controllers” of these firms.

As part of its regulatory approach the FSA carries out regular risk assessments of the firms in the Group and they are subject generally to direct and on-going FSA supervision.

Setting standards for firms

The FSA carries out the prudential supervision and conduct of business regulation of all authorised firms and also regulates the conduct of their business in the UK.

Currently, the application of its conduct of business rules to banking business and general insurance business is limited but the FSA assumed powers to regulate general insurance intermediation activities from January 2005 (as noted below).

Prudential supervision includes monitoring the adequacy of a firm’s management, its financial resources and internal systems and controls. Firms are required to submit regular returns to the FSA which provide material for supervisory assessment. Different prudential requirements have applied to different sectors of the financial services industry. However, the FSA has prepared an Integrated Prudential Sourcebook (“IPSB”) aimed at applying a more harmonised and consistent approach to prudential regulation across the whole industry. From 1 January 2005, insurers were the first industry segment to comply with the FSA’s new IPSB requirements. Implementation for the remainder of the industry is expected in stages, from 1 January 2005 until 1 January 2008.

The EU Financial Groups Directive came into force on 1 January 2005 and was implemented as part of the FSA’s IPSB requirements. This will create an additional set of regulatory requirements recognising the insurance, investment and banking business of certain financial sector groups as financial conglomerates.

Many of the standards relating to the capital, which firms must hold to absorb losses arising from risks to its business, are determined by EU legislation or are negotiated internationally. The current capital adequacy regime requires firms to maintain certain levels of capital, of certain specified types (or tiers), against particular business risks.

A parallel process of reviewing and revising the current EU Capital Adequacy requirements is also underway. This will impact on all European banks and investment firms. The EU Capital Requirements Directive is currently being reviewed by the EU Parliament prior to National implementation by 1 January 2008. In the UK, the relevant changes will be implemented via changes to the FSA’s IPSB.

In its supervisory role, the FSA sets requirements relating to matters such as consolidated supervision, capital adequacy, liquidity, large exposures, and the adequacy of accounting procedures and controls. Banks are required to set out their policy on “large exposures” and to inform the FSA of this. The policy must be reviewed annually and any significant departures from policies must be discussed with the FSA. Large exposures must be monitored and controlled.

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Additional information continued

Supervision and regulation (continued)

As regards the insurance industry, the FSA’s primary objective is to regulate and supervise the industry so that policyholders have confidence that they have bought appropriate products, that UK insurers are able to meet their liabilities and that they treat customers fairly. The FSA sets requirements relating to “margins of solvency” (i.e. the excess of the value of assets over the amount of liabilities). Companies carrying out insurance business are required to submit regular returns covering reserves and solvency to the FSA.

On 15 January 2005, the FSA commenced regulation of the sale and administration of general insurance and certain other types of insurance contracts.

Firms must also meet standards relating to senior management and internal systems and controls and must comply with rules designed to reduce the scope for firms to be used for money laundering. Revised Joint Money Laundering Steering Group Guidance Notes came into force in 2004. The EU published its draft Third Money Laundering Directive which aims to consolidate the two previous Anti Money Laundering Directives. Implementation is expected in 2006.

Conduct of business standards essentially govern key aspects of firms’ relationships with customers, and require the provision of clear and adequate information, the managing of conflicts of interest and the recommending of products suitable to the needs of customers. The marketing of financial products (particularly investment products) is subject to detailed requirements.

FSA rules relating to the provision of advice on “packaged” products (i.e. personal pensions, life assurance and collective investment schemes) were changed on 1 December 2004. The previous rules required businesses either to be independent or tied to only one product provider. The FSA has now abolished these rules. There is a six month transitional period for firms to amend their documentation and processes. Firms can continue to be independent or they can associate themselves in a variety of ways with many product providers. The changes are not expected to have any significant impact on RBSG.

1.4     Focus on customers

An important element in securing an appropriate degree of consumer protection is ensuring that suitable arrangements are made for dealing with customer complaints. Firms are required to establish appropriate internal complaint handling procedures and to report complaints statistics to the FSA. Where an issue cannot be resolved by the parties it may be referred for independent assessment to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

The FSA’s high level principles require all regulated firms to treat their customers fairly. Since 2000 the FSA has undertaken a number of industry wide thematic reviews on this issue, and this activity will continue into 2005. The FSA have indicated that they will include assessment of firms’ effectiveness in this area in the firms’ ARROW assessments from 2005.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (financed by levies on authorised firms) is available to provide compensation up to certain limits if a firm collapses owing money to investors, depositors or policyholders.

1.5     Fraud

Towards the end of October 2004, the FSA launched its new policy on combating fraud in the financial services industry – Fighting Fraud in Partnership. The FSA is working on a programme of activities focusing on (i) actions that the FSA will take, (ii) FSA support for work by trade associations and the industry, (iii) creating closer relationships with law enforcement agencies and, (iv) the Government making fraud a higher law enforcement priority leading the development of a fraud strategy.

1.6     Enforcement

Where appropriate, the FSA may discipline and/or prosecute for breaches of the legislative or regulatory requirements. The FSA works closely with the criminal authorities and uses both civil and criminal powers. It can withdraw a firm’s authorisation, discipline firms and individuals, prosecute for various offences and require funds to be returned to customers.

The FSA also has powers under certain consumer legislation to take action against authorised firms to address unfair terms in financial services consumer contracts.

1.7     Extension of the FSA’s responsibilities

From 31 October 2004, the scope of the FSA’s responsibilities was widened to cover the regulation and supervision of mortgage lending and administration and the provision of mortgage advice. Arrangements relating to the sale and administration of general insurance (and certain other insurance) contracts became regulated from 15 January 2005. These activities are undertaken by companies in the Group and this extension of the scope of statutory regulation is likely to have a significant impact on how the relevant businesses operate in the future.

1.8     Other relevant UK agencies and Government departments

Consumer credit issues are covered by the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) and the Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”) and competition issues are dealt with by the OFT.

The business of granting consumer credit is heavily regulated. Aspects of the consumer credit business are under review, at both national and EU levels. Some changes to UK legislation were implemented from October 2004 (primarily changes to advertising requirements), with others coming into force in May 2005 and legislation to further amend the UK regime scheduled for 2005. An EU Consumer Credit Directive is also under negotiation.

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1.9     The European dimension

An increasing amount of national financial services regulation, in the UK and in other Member States, emanates from the European Union. An extensive programme of legislation under the EU’s Financial Services Action Plan is nearly complete, aiming to develop key aspects of the single European market in financial services across its (now) 25 countries. This Plan includes significant measures such as the endorsement of International Accounting Standards, revisions of EU Company Law, the updated Investment Services Directive and Directives on Market Abuse, Distance Marketing in Consumer Financial Services, and Takeovers. Some changes were implemented in 2004, others are still being implemented, with important proposals such as the legal framework for a single European payments area still in development. A debate was launched by the European Commission in 2004 around future EU action relating to financial services, beyond major existing projects such as the Capital Requirements Directive.

2        United States

As the ultimate parent of Citizens’ subsidiary banks, the company is a bank holding company within the meaning of, and subject to regulation under, the US Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Board”). Under current Board policy, the company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to its US bank subsidiaries. The BHCA generally prohibits the company from acquiring, directly or indirectly, the ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company engaged in non-banking activities in the United States unless the Board has determined, by order or regulation, that such activities are so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. In addition, the BHCA requires the company to obtain the prior approval of the Board before acquiring, directly or indirectly, the ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any US bank or bank holding company. However, the US Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the "GLBA") permits bank holding companies that have met certain eligibility criteria and elected to become 'financial holding companies' to engage in a significantly broader range of non-banking activities than those described above. Under the GLBA and related Board regulations, the company elected to become a financial holding company effective as of 9 February 2004.

The company’s US bank and non-bank subsidiaries, and the Royal Bank and NatWest’s US offices, are subject to direct supervision and regulation by various other federal and state authorities. Citizens’ bank subsidiaries are subject to regulation by state banking authorities and the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Royal Bank’s New York branch is supervised by the New York Banking Department. NatWest’s New York branch was closed at the end of April 2004. The company’s US securities affiliates are subject to regulation and supervision by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Charter One, which was acquired by Citizens in August 2004 is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

3        Regulatory developments for capital and risk management

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which meets at the Bank of International Settlements in Switzerland, sets the standards for firm’s weighted risk asset calculations and associated regulatory capital triggers. This Committee published a revised framework, called Basel 2, in June 2004. Full adoption of these new rules is expected by January 2008.

Application of Basel 2 differs between jurisdictions. In the EU, the Accord becomes law through the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD/CAD3) and associated changes to national laws or regulatory guidelines (for example the FSA’s Integrated Prudential Sourcebook). Within the US, regulators have the flexibility to implement the Accord directly, after a Final Notice of Prudential Rulemaking. The EU is applying the Accord to all banks and investment firms. The US is taking a different approach, mandating that their largest internationally active banks use the ‘Advanced’ approaches for credit and operational risk calculations; other banks can either remain on Basel 1 or ‘opt-into’ Basel 2. Our US subsidiary, Citizens, currently falls outside the group of mandated Basel 2 banks for purposes of US regulation.

The Accord, based around three Pillars of Minimum Capital Requirements (Pillar 1), Supervisory Review (Pillar 2) and Market Discipline (Pillar 3), presents a fundamental change to the current capital adequacy regime and will have wide ranging consequences for the banking industry as a whole. The Group is actively involved in dialogue with various regulatory groups and is taking the necessary steps to prepare for the new Accord.

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Additional information continued

Description of property and equipments

The Group operates from a number of locations worldwide, principally in the UK. At 31 December 2004, the Royal Bank and NatWest had 642 and 1,631 retail branches, respectively, in the UK. Citizens had 1,613 retail banking offices (including in-store branches) covering Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. A substantial majority of the UK branches are owned by the Royal Bank, NatWest and their subsidiaries or are held under leases with unexpired terms of over 50 years. The Group’s principal properties include its headquarters at St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, its principal offices in London at 135 and 280 Bishopsgate and the Drummond House administration centre located at South Gyle, Edinburgh. A new corporate headquarters is being developed at Gogarburn, Edinburgh, which is due to open in 2005.

Freehold and long leasehold properties are revalued on a rolling basis, each property being valued at least once every five years. Interim valuations outwith the five year cycle are carried out on properties where there is an indication that its value has changed significantly, given market conditions. Any increase or deficit on revaluation is reflected in the carrying value of premises at that time. Any impairment in the value of premises where there is a clear consumption of economic benefits is charged in full to the profit and loss account. Other impairments of premises are charged to the profit and loss account after eliminating any previous revaluation surplus on the premises. Any profit from the sale of revalued premises is calculated by deducting the revalued amount from the net proceeds. The revaluation of premises at 31 December 2004 resulted in a £56 million increase in property revaluation reserves.

Total capital expenditure on premises, computers and other equipment for the year ended 31 December 2004 was £1,513 million (2003 – £2,613 million; 2002 – £872 million).

Major shareholders

Details of major shareholders in the company’s ordinary and preference shares are given on page 63.

With the exception of Santander Central Hispano S.A. which sold (i) 86.7 million ordinary shares shares representing 2.9% of the company’s ordinary share capital on 25 November 2002, (ii) 79 million ordinary shares representing 2.5% of the company’s ordinary share capital on 9 September 2004 and (iii) 82 million shares representing 2.5% of the company’s ordinary share capital on 27 January 2005 (and the remainder of SCH’s shareholding in the company), there have been no significant changes in the percentage ownership of major shareholders of the company’s ordinary and preference shares during the three years ended 23 February 2005. All shareholders within a class of the company’s shares have the same voting rights. The company is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation or any foreign government.

At 23 February 2005, the directors of the company had options to purchase a total of 1,800,211 ordinary shares of the company.

As at 31 December 2004, almost all of the company’s US$ denominated preference shares were held by shareholders registered in the US. All other shares were predominantly held by shareholders registered outside the US.

Material contracts

The company and its subsidiaries are party to various contracts in the ordinary course of business. For the year ended 31 December 2004, there have been no material contracts entered into outside the ordinary course of business.

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Shareholder information
 
Contents
     
168   Financial calendar
     
168   Shareholder enquiries
     
168   Capital gains tax
     
169   Analyses of ordinary shareholders
   
169   Trading market
     
171   Memorandum and articles of association
   
177   Taxation for US holders
     
182   Exchange controls
     
182   Documents on display
     
183   Important addresses
     
183   Principal offices

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Shareholder information  
   
Financial calendar  
Annual general meeting   20 April 2005 at 2.00 pm,
  Edinburgh International Conference Centre,
  The Exchange, Morrison Street, Edinburgh
     
Interim results   4 August 2005
     
Dividends  
Payment dates:  
       *Ordinary shares (2004 Final)   3 June 2005
       Ordinary shares (2005 Interim)   October 2005
       Cumulative preference shares   31 May and 30 December 2005
       Non-cumulative dollar preference shares   31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 30 December 2005
Ex-dividend dates:  
         Ordinary shares (2004 Final)   9 March 2005
         Cumulative preference shares   4 May 2005
Record dates:  
         Ordinary shares (2004 Final)   11 March 2005
         Cumulative preference shares   6 May 2005

*      If the necessary approvals are obtained from shareholders at the annual general meeting on 20 April 2005, as an alternative to cash, a scrip dividend election will be offered and shareholders will receive details of this by letter after that date.

Shareholder enquiries

Shareholdings in the company may be checked by visiting our website (www.rbs.com/shareholder). You will need the shareholder reference number printed on your share certificate or tax voucher to gain access to this information.

Braille and audio Annual Review and Summary Financial Statement

Shareholders requiring a Braille or audio version of the Annual Review and Summary Financial Statement should contact the Registrar on 0870 702 0135.

ShareGift

The company is aware that shareholders who hold a small number of shares may be retaining these shares because dealing costs make it uneconomical to dispose of them. ShareGift, the charity share donation scheme is a free service operated by The Orr Mackintosh Foundation (registered charity 1052686) to enable shareholders to donate unwanted shares to charity.

Should you wish to donate your shares to charity in this way you should contact ShareGift for further information:

ShareGift, The Orr Mackintosh Foundation,
46 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 3HN
Tel: 020 7337 0501
www.ShareGift.org

Donating your shares in this way will not give rise to either a gain or a loss for UK capital gains tax purposes and you may be able to reclaim UK income tax on gifted shares. Further information can be obtained from the UK Inland Revenue or your local tax office.

Capital gains tax

For shareholders who held RBS ordinary shares at 31 March 1982, the market value of one ordinary share held was 103p. After adjusting for the 1 March 1985 rights issue, the 1 September 1989 capitalisation issue and the bonus issue of Additional Value Shares on 12 July 2000, the adjusted 31 March 1982 base value of one ordinary share held currently is 46.1p.

For shareholders who held NatWest ordinary shares at 31 March 1982, the market value of one ordinary share held was 85.16p for shareholders who accepted the basic terms of the RBS offer. This takes account of the August 1984 and June 1986 rights issues and the June 1989 bonus issue of NatWest ordinary shares as well as the subsequent issue of Additional Value Shares.

When disposing of shares, shareholders are also entitled to indexation allowance (to April 1998 only in the case of individuals and non-corporate holders), which is calculated on the 31 March 1982 value, on the cost of subsequent purchases from the date of purchase and on the subscription for rights from the date of that payment. Further adjustments must be made where a shareholder has chosen to receive shares instead of cash for dividends. Individuals and non-corporate shareholders may also be entitled to some taper relief to reduce the amount of any chargeable gain on disposal of shares.

The information set out above is intended as a general guide only and is based on current United Kingdom legislation and Inland Revenue practice as at this date. This information deals only with the position of individual shareholders who are resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes, who are the beneficial owners of their shares and who hold their shares as an investment. It does not deal with the position of shareholders other than individual shareholders, shareholders who are resident outside the United Kingdom for tax purposes or certain types of shareholders, such as dealers in securities.

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Analyses of ordinary shareholders at 31 December 2004

  shareholdings   millions   %
 of total
Individuals 170,022   237.9   7.5
Banks and nominee companies 23,731   2,762.7   87.1
Investment trusts 145   0.8   ––
Insurance companies 339   11.6   0.4
Other companies 2,200   144.7   4.5
Pension trusts 37   9.6   0.3
Other corporate bodies 104   5.3   0.2
196,578   3,172.6   100.0
 
           
Range of shareholdings:    
10,000,001–1,000 129,864   45.2   1.4
10,001,001–10,000 61,136   166.0   5.2
10,010,001–100,000 4,161   105.6   3.4
11,100,001–1,000,000 1,041   338.9   10.7
11,000,001–10,000,000 326   926.7   29.2
10,000,001 and over 50   1,590.2   50.1
196,578   3,172.6   100.0
 

Trading market

On 13 September 1995, 16 October 1996, 26 March 1997, 12 February 1998, 8 February 1999, 30 July 1999, 30 September 1999, 12 June 2001, 30 September 2004 and 26 August 2004 the company issued the following American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) in the United States:

7,000,000 Series D (“Series D ADSs”) representing 7,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series D;
8,000,000 Series E (“Series E ADSs”) representing 8,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series E;
8,000,000 Series F (“Series F ADSs”) representing 8,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series F;
10,000,000 Series G (“Series G ADSs”) representing 10,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series G;
12,000,000 Series H (“Series H ADSs”) representing 12,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series H;
12,000,000 Series I (“Series I ADSs”) representing 12,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series I;
9,000,000 Series J (“Series J ADSs”) representing 9,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series J;
16,000,000 Series K (“Series K ADSs”) representing 16,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series K;
34,000,000 Series L (“Series L ADSs”) representing 34,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares Series L; and
37,000,000 Series M (“Series M ADSs”) representing 37,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares Series M.

Each of the respective ADSs represents the right to receive one corresponding preference share, is evidenced by an American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

The ADRs evidencing the ADSs above were issued pursuant to Deposit Agreements, among the company, The Bank of New York as depository, and all holders from time to time of ADRs issued thereunder. Currently, there is no non-United States trading market for any of the non-cumulative dollar preference shares. All of the non-cumulative dollar preference shares are held by the depository, as custodian, in bearer form.

At 31 December 2004, there were 238 registered shareholders of Series D ADSs, 129 registered shareholders of Series E ADSs, 144 registered shareholders of Series F ADSs, 90 registered shareholders of Series G ADSs, 90 registered shareholders of Series H ADSs, 109 registered shareholders of Series I ADSs, 73 registered shareholders of Series J ADSs, 64 registered shareholders of Series K ADSs, 9 registered shareholders of Series L ADSs and 1 registered shareholder of Series M ADSs.

On 29 March 1994 and 23 June 2003, respectively, the company issued 8,000,000 Exchangeable Capital Securities (“X-CAPs”), Series A and 34,000,000 Exchangeable Capital Securities, Series B, each in connection with a public offering in the United States. On 30 September 2004, all of the outstanding Series B X-CAPs were exchanged into 34,000,000 non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series L. The Series A X-CAPs are listed on the NYSE and trade under the symbol ‘RBSPRX’. Currently, there is no non-US market for the Series A X-CAPs.

On 20 August 2001, the company issued US$1.2 billion of perpetual regulatory tier one securities (PROs) in connection with a public offering in the United States.

The ADSs, the X-CAPs and the PROs are listed on the NYSE.

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Shareholder information continued

The following table shows the high and low sales prices for each of the outstanding ADSs, X-CAPs and PROs for the periods indicated, as reported on the NYSE composite tape:

Figures in US$   Series D
 ADSs		   Series E
 ADSs		   Series F
 ADSs		   Series G
 ADSs		   Series H
 ADSs		   Series I
 ADSs		   Series J
 ADSs		   Series K
 ADSs		   Series L
 ADSs		   Series M
 ADSs		   Series A
 X-CAPs		   PROs(1)
By month                        
February 2005 High   26.45   27.50   27.96   25.97   25.76   25.95   26.59   26.84   24.90   26.75   26.95   127.98
Low   26.05   27.00   27.50   25.60   25.55   25.70   26.13   26.60   24.59   26.07   26.05   123.07
January 2005 High   26.48   27.40   28.00   25.81   25.70   25.79   26.25   26.84   24.64   26.39   26.93   127.98
Low   26.26   26.96   27.33   25.55   25.45   25.57   25.49   26.37   24.30   26.06   26.09   123.07
December 2004 High   26.68   27.89   27.90   25.92   25.87   26.00   26.08   27.18   24.68   26.16   26.66   122.52
Low   25.89   27.00   27.16   25.39   25.30   25.49   25.64   26.32   24.15   25.76   26.15   117.44
November 2004 High   26.96   28.30   27.78   25.67   25.58   25.88   26.07   27.12   24.45   26.05   26.37   121.24
Low   26.50   27.67   27.25   25.41   25.41   25.45   25.81   26.78   23.89   25.45   26.03   118.07
October 2004 High   26.66   28.35   27.82   25.50   25.44   25.55   25.88   27.04   24.10   25.64   26.16   122.09
Low   26.39   27.56   27.42   25.30   25.31   25.30   25.54   26.75   23.51   25.21   25.72   118.48
September 2004 High   27.45   28.38   28.15   25.75   25.62   25.79   26.40   27.30   —   25.35   26.34   121.77
Low   26.42   27.56   27.45   25.29   25.19   25.29   25.53   26.52   ––   25.15   25.70   117.13
                                                   
By quarter                        
2004: Fourth quarter High   26.96   28.35   27.90   25.92   25.87   26.00   26.08   27.18   24.68   26.16   26.66   122.52
Low   25.89   27.00   27.16   25.30   25.30   25.30   25.54   26.32   23.51   25.21   25.72   117.44
2004: Third quarter High   27.45   28.38   28.15   25.75   25.62   25.79   26.40   27.30   ––   25.35   26.34   121.77
Low   26.08   26.65   26.65   25.12   24.95   25.20   25.53   26.30   ––   25.13   25.30   112.21
2004: Second quarter High   27.22   29.00   28.10   25.65   25.41   26.00   26.41   27.97   —   —   26.02   122.11
Low   25.84   25.90   25.65   24.20   24.45   25.14   25.42   25.70   —   —   25.25   110.58
2004: First quarter High   27.90   29.00   28.45   25.90   25.67   26.25   27.05   28.00   —   —   26.61   125.14
Low   26.96   27.99   27.65   25.30   25.15   25.70   26.17   27.21   —   —   25.74   116.87
2003: Fourth quarter High   27.75   29.16   28.50   25.80   25.85   26.50   27.43   27.90   —   —   27.15   120.21
Low   26.86   27.92   27.67   25.25   25.10   25.77   26.35   26.87   —   —   26.06   112.70
2003: Third quarter High   28.30   29.15   28.97   25.85   26.04   27.12   27.19   27.84   —   —   27.00   123.89
Low   27.24   27.30   27.20   25.23   25.28   25.65   26.30   26.05   —   —   26.00   111.06
2003: Second quarter High   29.00   29.20   29.05   25.96   26.35   27.19   27.89   28.20   —   —   27.25   130.78
Low   27.25   27.70   27.41   25.16   25.51   26.20   26.94   27.15   —   —   26.50   113.27
2003: First quarter High   28.90   29.00   28.12   26.00   26.40   27.40   28.00   27.79   —   —   27.15   119.11
Low   26.76   27.01   27.03   25.00   25.35   26.11   26.59   26.85   —   —   26.45   113.79
                                                   
By year                        
2004 (2) High   27.90   29.00   28.45   25.92   25.87   26.25   27.05   28.00   24.68   26.16   26.66   125.14
Low   25.84   25.90   25.65   24.20   24.45   25.14   25.42   25.70   23.51   25.13   25.25   110.58
2003 (2) High   29.00   29.20   29.05   26.00   26.40   27.40   28.00   28.20   —   —   27.25   130.78
Low   26.76   27.01   27.03   25.00   25.10   25.65   26.30   26.05   —   —   26.00   111.06
2002 (2) High   27.77   28.20   28.00   25.73   26.05   27.08   27.50   27.30   —   —   27.00   116.36
Low   25.74   25.53   25.15   24.46   24.27   24.50   25.45   24.79   —   —   25.35   100.07
2001 (2) High   27.99   27.94   27.20   25.86   27.15   27.00   28.85   26.95   —   —   27.20   106.44
Low   25.38   25.25   24.31   22.94   22.75   24.63   24.80   22.17   —   —   25.50   96.58
2000 (3) High   25.50   25.31   24.63   23.00   22.94   25.00   25.50   —   —   —   26.00   —
Low   20.63   19.81   19.13   18.88   17.63   19.63   21.13   —   —   —   21.56   —

  Notes:
(1) Price quoted as a % of US$1,000 nominal.
(2) Year ended 31 December.
(3) 15 months ended 31 December.
   

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Memorandum and articles of association

The following information is a summary of certain terms of the company’s Memorandum of Association (the “Memorandum”) and Articles of Association (the “Articles”) as in effect at the date of this Annual Report and certain relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1985, as amended (the “Act”) as relevant to the holders of any class of share. The Articles were last amended on April 29, 2004. The following summary description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the Memorandum and Articles. The Memorandum and Articles are registered with the Registrar of Companies of Scotland. Holders of any class of share are encouraged to read the full Memorandum and Articles, which have been filed with the SEC.

Incorporation and registration

The company was incorporated and registered in Scotland under the Companies Act 1948 as a limited company on 25 March 1968 under the name National and Commercial Banking Group Limited. On 10 March 1982, it changed its name to its present name and was registered under the Companies Acts 1948 to 1980 as a public company with limited liability. The company is registered under Company No. SC 45551.

Purpose and objects

The Memorandum provides, amongst other things, that its objects are to carry on the business of banking in all or any of its aspects and to carry on the business of a holding company. The company’s objects are set out in full in clause 4 of the Memorandum.

Directors

At each annual general meeting of the company, one third of the directors (or the number nearest to one third) subject to retirement will retire by rotation and be eligible for re-election. The directors to retire will be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or re-election or, in the case of those who were appointed or re-elected on the same day, will (unless they otherwise agree) be determined by lot. Each director must retire by rotation at the third annual general meeting following the general meeting at which he was appointed or last re-elected. In addition, if there is only one director who is subject to retirement by rotation, he must retire.

Directors may be appointed by the company by ordinary resolution or by the Board. A director appointed by the Board holds office only until the next annual general meeting, whereupon he will be eligible for re-election, and is not taken into account in determining the directors who are to retire by rotation at that meeting. Unless and until otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the directors (other than alternate directors) shall be not more than twenty five. There is no stipulation in the Articles regarding a minimum number of directors; under the Act, and in the absence of express provision, the minimum number is two.

Directors’ interests

A director shall not vote at a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board on any resolution of the Board concerning a matter in which he has an interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interest in shares, debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, the company) which (together with any interest of any person connected with him) is, to his knowledge, material unless his interests arises only because the resolution relates to one or more of the following matters:

  i.      the giving of any security or indemnity to him pursuant to the Articles or in respect of money lent, or obligations incurred, by him at the request of, or for the benefit of, the company or any of its subsidiary undertakings;
 
  ii.      the giving of any security or indemnity to a third party in respect of a debt or obligation of the company or any of its subsidiary undertakings for which he has assumed responsibility (in whole or in part) under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
 

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  iii.      a proposal concerning an offer of shares, debentures or other securities of the company, or any of its subsidiary undertakings, for subscription or purchase, in which offer he is, or may be, entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which he is to participate;
 
  iv.      a contract, arrangement, transaction or proposal concerning any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly, whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise, provided that he is not the holder of shares representing one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate;
 
  v.      any proposal concerning the adoption, modification or operation of a pension fund or retirement, death or disability benefits scheme or employees’ share scheme which relates both to directors and employees of the company or a subsidiary of the company and does not provide any privilege in respect of any director which it does not accord to the employees to which the fund or scheme relates;
 
  vi.      a contract or arrangement for the benefit of the employees of the company or any of its subsidiary undertakings which does not award him any privilege or benefit not generally accorded to the employees to whom the contract or arrangement relates; and
 
  vii.      a proposal concerning any insurance which the company proposes to purchase and/or maintain for, or for the benefit of, any directors or for persons who include directors of the company.
 

Borrowing powers

The directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, guarantee, liability or obligation of the company, or of any third party.

Retirement

In accordance with section 293 of the Act and the Articles, no person who has attained the age of 70 may be appointed to the Board and any serving director reaching that age must vacate his office at the conclusion of the annual general meeting commencing next after he or she attains the age of 70.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors of any age may be appointed to or remain on the Board if that appointment is or was made or approved by the company in a general meeting provided that special notice containing the age of the relevant director is given.

Qualifying shareholding

Directors are not required to hold any shares of the company by way of qualification.

Classes of shares

The company has issued and outstanding the following 3 general classes of shares, namely ordinary shares, preference shares and non-voting deferred shares to which the provisions set forth below apply. In addition, the company has authorized as part of its share capital Additional Value Shares (“AVSs”). All of the issued AVSs were converted into non-voting deferred shares in December 2003. The terms of those AVSs are set out in Schedule 4 to the Articles.

Dividends

General

Subject to the provisions of the Act and clause 133 of the Articles, the company may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends on ordinary shares save that no dividend shall be payable except out of profits available for

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distribution, or in excess of the amount recommended by the Board or in contravention of the special rights attaching to any share.

Any dividend which has remained unclaimed for 12 years from the date of declaration shall be forfeited and shall revert to the company. The company may cease sending dividend warrants and cheques by post or otherwise to a member if such instruments have been returned undelivered to, or left uncashed by, that member on at least two consecutive occasions, or, following one such occasion, reasonable enquiries have failed to establish any new address or account of the registered holder. The company may resume sending warrants and cheques if the holder requests such recommencement in writing.

Preference shares

Each cumulative preference share confers the right to a fixed cumulative preferential dividend payable half-yearly. Each non-cumulative preference share confers the right to a preferential dividend (not exceeding a specified amount) payable in the currency of the relevant share. The rate of such dividend and the date of payment thereof, together with the terms and conditions of the dividend, are as may be determined by the directors prior to allotment. Cumulative preference share dividends are paid in priority to any dividend on any other class of share.

The non-cumulative preference shares rank for dividend after the cumulative preference shares but rank pari passu with each other and any shares expressed to rank, in terms of participation in the profits of the company, in some or all respects pari passu therewith and otherwise in priority to dividends payable on the ordinary shares and any other share capital in the company.

The directors may resolve prior to the issue and allotment of any series of non-cumulative preference shares that full dividends in respect of a particular dividend payment date will not be declared and paid if, (i) in its sole and absolute discretion, the directors resolve prior to the relevant dividend payment date that such dividend (or part thereof) shall not be paid and/or (ii) in the opinion of the directors, payment of a dividend would cause a breach of the UK Financial Services Authority’s capital adequacy requirements applicable to the company or its subsidiaries, or subject to the next following paragraph, insufficient distributable profits of the company are available to cover the payment in full of all dividends after having paid any dividends payable on any of the cumulative preference shares.

If dividends will be paid but, in the opinion of the directors, insufficient distributable profits of the company are available to cover the payment in full of dividends after having paid any dividends payable on any of the cumulative preference shares, dividends will be declared by the directors, pro rata on the non-cumulative preference shares to the extent of the available distributable profits.

The non-cumulative preference shares will carry no further rights to participate in the profits of the company and if, and to the extent, any dividend or part of any dividend is on any occasion not paid for any of the reasons described above, holders of non-cumulative preference shares will have no claim in respect of such non-payment.

If any dividend is not payable for the reasons described in clause (ii) of this subsection, the directors may pay a special dividend not exceeding US$0.01, £0.01 or €0.01 (depending on the currency of the relevant preference share) per share.

If the dividend payable on any series of non-cumulative preference shares on the most recent payment date is not paid in full, or if a sum is not set aside to provide for such payment in full, in either case for the reasons set forth in clause (ii) of this subsection, no dividends may be declared on any other share capital of the company and no sum may be set aside for the payment of a dividend on any other share capital (in each case other than the cumulative preference shares), unless, on the date of declaration, an amount equal to the dividend payable in respect of the then current dividend period for such series of non-cumulative preference shares is set aside for payment in full on the next dividend payment date.

If any dividend payable on the non-cumulative preference shares is not paid in full or if a sum is not set aside to provide for such payment in full (in either case for the reasons set forth in clause (ii) of this subsection), the company may not redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire any other share capital of the company and may not set

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aside any sum nor establish any sinking fund for its redemption, purchase or other such acquisition, until such time as dividends have been declared and paid in full in respect of successive dividend periods together aggregating not less than twelve months.

The non-payment of any dividend (in full or in part) by reason of the exercise of the directors’ discretion referred to in clause (i) of this subsection, shall not prevent or restrict (a) the declaration and payment of dividends on any other series of non-cumulative preference shares or on any non-cumulative preference shares expressed to rank pari passu with the non-cumulative preference shares, (b) the setting aside of sums for the payment of such dividends, (c) except as set forth in the following paragraph, the redemption, purchase or other acquisition of shares in the company by the company, or (d) except as set forth in the following paragraph, the setting aside of sums, or the establishment of sinking funds, for any such redemption, purchase or other acquisition by the company.

If dividends are not declared and paid in full on any series of non-cumulative preference shares as a result of the directors’ discretion referred to in clause (i) of this subsection, then the company may not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for any consideration any share capital ranking after such preference shares, and may not set aside any sum nor establish any sinking fund for the redemption, purchase or other acquisition thereof, until such time as the company has declared and paid in full dividends on such series of non-cumulative preference shares in respect of successive dividend periods together aggregating no less than twelve months. In addition, no dividend may be declared or paid on any of the company’s share capital ranking after such preference shares until the dividend in respect of a particular dividend payment date payable on the preference shares to which the directors’ discretion in clause (i) of this subsection applies has been declared and paid in full.

Non-voting deferred shares

The holders of non-voting deferred shares are not entitled to the payment of any dividend or other distribution.

Distribution of assets on liquidation

Cumulative preference shares

In the event of a return of capital on a winding-up or otherwise, the holders of cumulative preference shares are entitled to receive out of the surplus assets of the company available for distribution amongst the members (i) in priority to the holders of the non-cumulative preference shares and any other shares ranking pari passu therewith, the arrears of any fixed dividends including the amount of any dividend due for a payment after the date of commencement of any winding-up or liquidation but which is payable in respect of a half-year period ending on or before such date and (ii) pari passu with the holders of the non-cumulative preference shares and any other shares ranking pari passu therewith, the amount paid up or credited as paid up on such shares together with any premium.

Non-cumulative preference shares

Each non-cumulative preference share will confer on a winding up or liquidation (except (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue) a redemption or purchase by the company of any shares in the capital of the company), the right to receive out of surplus assets of the company available for distribution amongst the members after payment of the arrears (if any) of the cumulative dividend on the cumulative preference shares and in priority to the holders of the ordinary shares, repayment of the amount paid up or credited as paid up on the non-cumulative preference shares together with any premium paid on issue pari passu with the holders of the cumulative preference shares and together with an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends.

Non-voting deferred shares

On a winding-up or other return of capital of the company, holders of non-voting deferred shares are entitled only to payment of the amounts paid up on the non-voting deferred shares, after repayment to the holders of ordinary shares of the nominal amount paid up on the ordinary shares held by them and payment of £100,000 on each ordinary share.

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General

On a winding-up of the company, the liquidator may, with the authority of any extraordinary resolution and any other sanction required by the Insolvency Act 1986 and subject to the rights attaching to any class of shares after payment of all liabilities, including the payment to holders of preference shares, divide amongst the members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the company or vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the members and may determine the scope and terms of those trusts. No member shall be compelled to accept any assets on which there is a liability.

Voting Rights

General

Subject to any rights or restrictions as to voting attaching to any shares or class of shares, on a show of hands every member who is present in person at a general meeting shall have one vote and on a poll every member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each 25 pence in nominal amount of shares held by him. No member shall, unless the directors otherwise determine, be entitled to vote at a general meeting or at a separate meeting of the holders of shares in the capital of the company, either in person or by proxy, in respect of any share held by him unless all monies presently payable by him in respect of that share have been paid.

The quorum required for a meeting of members is not less than five members present in person and entitled to vote. If a meeting is adjourned because of the lack of a quorum, the members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote will constitute a quorum at the adjourned meeting.

Meetings are convened upon written notice of not less than 21 days in respect of meetings of members called for the passing of a special resolution or annual general meetings of members, and not less than 14 days in respect of most other meetings of members.

Cumulative preference shares

At a general meeting of the company, every holder of a cumulative preference share who is present in person shall be entitled to one vote on a show of hands and, on a poll, every person who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each 25 pence in nominal amount of shares held. No member shall be entitled to vote any share in person or by proxy unless all moneys owed in respect of that share have been paid.

Non-cumulative preference shares

Holders of non-cumulative preference shares are not entitled to attend or vote at any general meeting unless the business of the meeting includes the consideration of a resolution for the winding-up of the company or any resolution directly varying or abrogating the rights attached to any such shares and then in such case only to speak to and vote upon any such resolution.

However, holders have the right to vote in respect of any matter when the dividend payable on their shares has not been declared in full for such number of dividend periods as the directors shall determine prior to the allotment thereof.

Whenever a holder is entitled to vote at a general meeting, on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person has one vote and, on a poll, every such holder who is present in person or by proxy shall have such number of votes as may be determined by the directors prior to allotment.

Non-voting deferred shares

The holders of non-voting deferred shares are not entitled to receive notice of or to attend or vote at any general meeting of the company or otherwise receive any shareholder communication.

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Redemption

Unless the directors determine, prior to allotment of any particular series of non-cumulative preference shares, that such series shall be non-redeemable, the preference shares will be redeemable at the option of the company on any date (a “Redemption Date”) which (subject to certain exceptions described in the terms of such shares) falls no earlier than such date (if any) as may be fixed by the directors, prior to allotment of such shares. On redemption, there shall be paid on each non-cumulative preference share the aggregate of its nominal amount together with any premium paid on issue, where applicable a redemption premium and accruals of dividend.

Purchase

General

Subject to the Act, the company may, by special resolution, reduce its share capital, any capital redemption reserve and any share premium account or other undistributable reserve and may also, subject to the Act, the requirements of the London Stock Exchange and the rights attached to any class of shares, purchase its own shares (including redeemable shares).

Non-cumulative preference shares and convertible preference shares

Subject to the Act, the company may purchase any non-cumulative preference shares and convertible preference shares upon such terms as the directors shall determine provided that, where the shares being purchased are listed on the London Stock Exchange, the purchase price payable, exclusive of expenses and accrued dividends, shall not exceed (a) in the case of a purchase in the open market, or by tender, the average of the closing middle market quotations of such shares for the 10 dealing days preceding the date of the purchase of (if higher), in the case of a purchase in the open market only, the market price on the date of purchase provided that such market price is not more than 105 per cent of such average and (b) in the case of a purchase by private treaty, 120 per cent of the closing middle market quotation of such shares for the last dealing day preceding the date of purchase; but so that this proviso shall not apply to any purchase of such shares made in the ordinary course of a business of dealing in securities. Upon the purchase of any such shares, the nominal amount of such shares shall thereafter be divided into, and reclassified as, ordinary shares.

Conversion rights

Convertible preference shares carry the right to convert into ordinary shares if they have not been the subject of a notice of redemption from the company, on or before a specified date determined by the directors. The right to convert will be exercisable by service of a conversion notice on the company within a specified period. The company will use reasonable endeavours to arrange the sale, on behalf of convertible preference shareholders who have submitted a conversion notice, of the ordinary shares which result from such conversion and to pay to them the proceeds of such sale so that they receive net proceeds equal to the nominal value of the convertible preference shares which were the subject of the conversion notice and any premium at which such shares were issued, provided that ordinary shares will not be sold at below a benchmark price (as determined prior to the issue of the relevant convertible preference shares by the directors).

In December 2003, following the payment of aggregate dividends of £1 in respect of each AVS, all issued and outstanding AVSs were de-listed from the Official List and from trading on the London Stock Exchange’s market for listed securities and converted into non-voting deferred shares of £0.01 each.

Changes in share capital and variation of rights

Subject to the provisions of the Act and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing shares or class of shares, any share may be issued with such rights or restrictions as the company may by ordinary resolution determine or, subject to and in default of such determination, as the Board shall determine. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the company may issue shares which are. or at the option of the company or the holder are liable, to be redeemed. Subject to the provisions of the Act and the Articles, unissued shares are at the disposal of the Board.

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The company may by ordinary resolution: increase its share capital; consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares; subject to the provisions of the Act, subdivide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum; or cancel any shares which have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.

Subject to the provisions of the Act, if at any time the capital of the company is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class of shares may (unless further conditions are provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) be varied or abrogated, whether or not the company is being wound up, either with the consent in writing of the holders of three-quarters in-nominal value of the issued shares of the class or with the sanction of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of holders of the shares of the class (but not otherwise).

To any such separate general meeting the provision of the Articles relating to general meetings will apply, save that:

  (i)      if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum as defined above is not present, two people who hold shares of the class, or their proxies. are a quorum; and
 
  (ii)      any such holder present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.
 

The rights attaching to any class of shares having preferential rights are not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue thereof, deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking, as regards participation in the profits or assets of the company, pari passu therewith, but in no respect in priority thereto.

Disclosure of interests in shares

The Act gives the company the power to require persons who it believes to be, or have been within the previous three years, interested in its shares, to disclose prescribed particulars of those interests. Failure to supply the information or supplying a statement which is materially false may lead to the Board imposing restrictions upon the relevant shares. The restrictions available are the suspension of voting or other rights conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the company in respect of the relevant shares and, additionally, in the case of a shareholding representing at least 0.25 per cent of the class of shares concerned, the withholding of payment of dividends on, and the restriction of transfers of, the relevant shares.

Limitations on rights to own share

There are no limitations imposed by UK law or the Memorandum and Articles on the right of non-residents or foreign persons to hold or vote the company's shares other than the limitations that would generally apply to all of the company's shareholders.

Members resident abroad

Members with registered addresses outside the United Kingdom are not entitled to receive notices from the company unless they have given the company an address within the United Kingdom at which such notices may be served.

Taxation for US Holders

The following discussion summarises certain US federal and UK tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of non-cumulative dollar preference shares, ADSs, X-CAPs or PROs by a beneficial owner that is a citizen or resident of the United States or that otherwise will be subject to US federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of the non-cumulative dollar preference shares, ADSs, X-CAPs or PROs (a “US Holder”). This summary assumes that a US Holder is holding non-cumulative dollar preference shares, ADSs, X-CAPs or PROs, as applicable, as capital assets. This summary does not address the tax consequences to a US Holder (i) that is resident (or, in the case of an individual, ordinarily resident) in the UK for UK tax purposes or (ii) generally, that is a corporation which alone or together with one or more associated companies, controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting stock of the company.

The statements and practices set forth below regarding US and UK tax laws, including the US/UK double taxation convention relating to income and capital gains which entered into force on 31 March 2003 (the “New Treaty”), the prior US/UK double tax convention relating to income and capital gains (the “Prior Treaty”) and the US/UK double taxation convention relating to estate and gift taxes (the “Estate Tax Treaty”), are based on those laws and practices as in force and as applied in practice on the date of this Report. This summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations and holders are advised to satisfy themselves as to the overall tax consequences, including specifically the consequences under US federal, state, local and other laws, and possible changes in taxation law, of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of non-cumulative dollar preference shares, ADSs, X-CAPs or PROs by consulting their own tax advisers.

References below to “the Treaty” are references to either the Prior Treaty or the New Treaty as applicable.

For the purposes of the Treaty, the Estate Tax Treaty and the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), US Holders of ADSs will be treated as owners of the non-cumulative dollar preference shares underlying such ADSs.

Preference shares or ADSs
Taxation of dividends

The company is not required to withhold tax at source from dividend payments it makes or from any amount (including any amounts in respect of accrued dividends) distributed by the company.

Before 1 May 2004, if a US Holder would have been entitled to greater benefits under the Prior Treaty, that US Holder could have elected to continue to apply the Prior Treaty to dividend payments made before that date.

New Treaty

Because payments of dividends by the company to non-UK investors are not subject to UK withholding tax, it is not necessary to apply the New Treaty in order to receive a reduced rate of withholding. Since there is no UK withholding tax on payments of dividends to US Holders, US Holders will not be entitled to a foreign tax credit for foreign taxes paid as a result of the payment of dividends by the company.

Prior Treaty – effect of UK tax credit

An individual shareholder who is resident in the UK for UK tax purposes and who receives a dividend from the company is entitled to claim a tax credit in the UK against its income tax liability attributable to the dividend.

Although a US Holder that receives a dividend from the company will not be entitled to this UK tax credit, certain US Holders are entitled to a tax credit payment (the “Tax Credit Amount”). However, a US holder would not actually receive this Tax Credit Amount because of UK withholding tax.

Dividends paid by the company and any Tax Credit Amount will constitute foreign source dividend income for US federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of the current or accumulated earnings and profits of the company, as determined for US federal income tax purposes. Payments will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporate US Holders.

Subject to applicable limitations that may vary depending upon a holder’s individual circumstances, dividends paid to certain non-corporate US Holders in taxable years beginning before 1 January 2009 will be taxable at a maximum tax rate of 15%. Non-corporate US Holders should consult their own tax advisers to determine whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to be taxed at this favourable rate.

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Shareholder information continued

Taxation for US Holders (continued)

Taxation of capital gains

A US Holder that is not resident (or, in the case of an individual, ordinarily resident) in the UK will not normally be liable for UK tax on capital gains realised on the disposition of such holder’s non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS unless at the time of the disposal, in the case of a corporate US Holder, such US Holder carries on a trade in the UK through a permanent establishment or, in the case of any other US Holder, such US Holder carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a UK branch or agency and such non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS is or has been used, held or acquired by or for the purposes of such trade (or profession or vocation), permanent establishment, branch or agency. Special rules apply to individuals who are temporarily not resident or ordinarily resident in the UK.

A US Holder will, upon the sale, exchange or redemption of a non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS generally recognise capital gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes (assuming in the case of a redemption, that such US Holder does not own, and is not deemed to own, any ordinary shares of the company) in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realised (excluding in the case of a redemption any amount treated as a dividend for US federal income tax purposes, which will be taxed accordingly) and the US Holder’s tax basis in the non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS.

A US Holder who is liable for both UK and US tax on gain recognised on the disposal of a non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS will generally be entitled, subject to certain limitations, to credit the UK tax against its US federal income tax liability in respect of such gain.

Estate and gift tax

A non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS held by an individual, whose domicile is determined to be the United States for purposes of the Estate Tax Treaty and who is not a national of the UK, will not be subject to UK inheritance tax on the individual’s death or on a lifetime transfer of the non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS, except in certain cases where the non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS (i) is comprised in a settlement (unless, at the time of the settlement, the settlor was domiciled in the United States and was not a national of the UK); (ii) is part of the business property of a UK permanent establishment of an enterprise; or (iii) pertains to a UK fixed base of an individual used for the performance of independent personal services. The Estate Tax Treaty generally provides a credit against US federal estate or gift tax liability for the amount of any tax paid in the UK in a case where the non-cumulative dollar preference share or ADS is subject to both UK inheritance tax and US federal estate or gift tax.

UK stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax (“SDRT”)

The following is a summary of the UK stamp duty and SDRT consequences of transferring an ADS in registered form (otherwise than to the custodian on cancellation of the ADS) or of transferring a non-cumulative dollar preference share. A transfer of a registered ADS executed and retained in the United States will not give rise to stamp duty and an agreement to transfer a registered ADS will not give rise to SDRT.

Stamp duty or SDRT will normally be payable on or in respect of transfers of non-cumulative dollar preference shares and accordingly any holder who acquires or intends to acquire non-cumulative dollar preference shares is advised to consult its own tax advisers in relation to stamp duty and SDRT.

X-CAPs
United States

Because the X-CAPs have no stated maturity, can be exchanged for preference shares or ADSs at the option of the company, would be treated as if they were preference shares in a winding-up of the company, and the company may elect not to make payments on the X-CAPs, the X-CAPs will be treated as equity for US federal income tax purposes.

Payments (including any UK withholding tax, as to which see below) will constitute foreign source dividend income for US federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of the current or accumulated earnings and profits of the company, as determined for US federal income tax purposes. Payments will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporate US Holders.

Subject to applicable limitations that may vary depending upon a holder’s individual circumstances, dividends paid to certain non-corporate US Holders in taxable years beginning before 1 January 2009 will be taxable at a maximum tax rate of 15%. Non-corporate US Holders should consult their own tax advisers to determine whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to be taxed at this favourable rate.

A US Holder will, upon the sale, exchange or redemption of X-CAPs, generally recognise capital gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes (assuming in the case of a redemption, that such US Holder does not own, and is not deemed to own, any ordinary shares of the company). A US Holder who is liable for both UK and US tax on gain recognised on the disposal of the X-CAPs will generally be entitled, subject to certain limitations, to credit the UK tax against its US federal income tax liability in respect of such gain.

Gain or loss will not be recognised by a US Holder upon the exchange of X-CAPs for preference shares or ADSs pursuant to the company’s exercise of its exchange right. A US Holder’s basis in the preference shares or ADSs received in exchange for its X-CAPs will be the same as the US Holder’s basis in the X-CAPs at the time of the exchange and the US Holder’s holding period for the preference shares or ADSs received in the exchange will include the holding period of the X-CAPs exchanged.

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United Kingdom
Taxation of payments of interest

Payments on the X-CAPs will constitute interest rather than dividends for UK withholding tax purposes. However, the X-CAPs will constitute ‘quoted eurobonds’ within the meaning of section 349 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, and therefore payments of interest will not be subject to withholding or deduction for or on account of UK taxation as long as X-CAPs remain at all times listed on the New York Stock Exchange or some other recognised stock exchange within the meaning of section 841 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. In all other cases an amount must be withheld on account of UK income tax at the lower rate (currently 20%) subject to any direction to the contrary by the Inland Revenue under the Treaty and except that the withholding obligation is disapplied in respect of payments to persons who the company reasonably believes are within the charge to corporation tax or fall within various categories enjoying a special tax status (including charities and pension funds), or are partnerships consisting of such persons (unless the Inland Revenue directs otherwise).

If interest were paid under deduction of UK income tax (e.g., if the X-CAPs lost their listing), US Holders may be able to claim a refund of the tax deducted under the Treaty.

Any paying agent or other person through whom interest is paid to, or by whom interest is received on behalf of, an individual, may be required to provide information in relation to the payment and the individual concerned to the UK Inland Revenue. The Inland Revenue may communicate this information to the tax authorities of other jurisdictions.

The UK Inland Revenue confirmed at around the time of issue of the X-CAPs that interest payments should not be treated as distributions for UK tax purposes by reason of (i) the fact that interest may be deferred under the terms of issue or (ii) the undated nature of the X-CAPs, provided that at the time an interest payment is made, the X-CAPs are not held by a company which is ‘associated’ with the company or by a ‘funded company’. A company will be associated with the company if, broadly speaking, it is in the same group as the company. A company will be a ‘funded company’ for these purposes if there are arrangements involving that company being put in funds (directly or indirectly) by the company, or an entity associated with the company. In this respect, the Inland Revenue has confirmed that a company holding an interest in X-CAPs which incidentally has banking facilities with any company associated with the company will not be a ‘funded company’ by virtue of such facilities.

Interest on the X-CAPs constitutes UK source income for UK tax purposes and, as such, may be subject to income tax by direct assessment even where paid without withholding.

However, interest with a UK source received without deduction or withholding on account of UK tax will not be chargeable to UK tax in the hands of a US Holder unless, in the case of a corporate US Holder, such US Holder carries on a trade in the UK through a UK permanent establishment or in the case of other US Holders, such persons carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a UK branch or agency in connection with which the interest is received or to which the X-CAPs are attributable. There are exemptions for interest received by certain categories of agents (such as some brokers and investment managers).

EU Directive on taxation of savings income

The European Union has adopted a new directive regarding the taxation of savings income. Subject to a number of important conditions being met, Member States of the European Union will be required from a date not earlier than 1 July 2005 to provide to the tax authorities of other Member States details of payments of interest or other similar income paid by a person to an individual in another Member State, except that Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria will instead impose a withholding system for a transitional period unless during such period they elect otherwise.

Disposal (including redemption)

A disposal (including redemption) of X-CAPs by a non-corporate US Holder, will not give rise to any liability to UK taxation on capital gains unless the US Holder carries on a trade (which for this purpose includes a profession or vocation) in the UK through a branch or agency and the X-CAPs are, or have been, held or acquired for the purposes of that trade, branch or agency. The exchange by such US Holder of X-CAPs for preference shares or ADSs pursuant to the company’s exercise of its exchange right will not give rise to a charge to UK tax on capital gains even if such US Holder would be subject to tax on a disposal of such holder’s X-CAPs in accordance with the tax treatment referred to previously.

A transfer of X-CAPs by a US Holder will not give rise to a charge to UK tax on accrued but unpaid interest payments, unless the US Holder is an individual or other non-corporate tax payer and at any time in the relevant year of assessment or accounting period carries on a trade in the UK through a branch or agency to which the X-CAPs are attributable.

Annual tax charges

Corporate US Holders of X-CAPs may be subject to annual UK tax charges (or relief) by reference to fluctuations in exchange rates and in respect of profits, gains and losses arising from the X-CAPs, but only if such corporate US Holders carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a UK permanent establishment to which the X-CAPs are attributable.

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Shareholder information continued

Taxation for US Holders (continued)

Inheritance tax

X-CAPs in bearer form physically held outside the UK should not be subject to UK inheritance tax in respect of a lifetime transfer by, or the death of, a US Holder who is neither domiciled nor deemed to be domiciled in the UK for inheritance tax purposes. However, in relation to X-CAPs held through DTC (or any other clearing system), the position is not free from doubt and the Inland Revenue are known to consider that the situs of securities held in this manner is not necessarily determined by the place in which the securities are physically held. If X-CAPs in bearer form are or become situated in the UK, or if X-CAPs are held in registered form, there may be a charge to UK inheritance tax as a result of a lifetime transfer at less than fair market value by, or on the death of, such US Holder. However, exemption from, or a reduction of, any such UK tax liability may be available under the Estate Tax Treaty in the same manner as for non-cumulative dollar preference shares. US Holders should consult their professional advisers in relation to such potential liability.

Stamp duty and SDRT

No UK stamp duty is payable on the transfer by delivery or redemption of bearer X-CAPs, whether in definitive form or in the form of one or more global X-CAPs. No SDRT is payable on any agreement to transfer bearer X-CAPs provided that the agreement is not made in contemplation of, or as part of an arrangement for, a takeover of the company.

No UK stamp duty will be payable in respect of any instrument of transfer of depositary interests representing X-CAPs, provided that any instrument relating to such transfer is not executed in the UK, and remains at all times outside the UK. Depositary interests representing X-CAPs will not be “chargeable securities” for SDRT purposes, and consequently a transfer of such depositary interests will not be subject to SDRT. Although the position is not clear, the transfer on the sale of X-CAPs in registered form may attract ad valorem UK stamp duty or (if an unconditional agreement to transfer X-CAPs is not completed by a duly stamped transfer) UK SDRT, generally at the rate of 0.5% of the consideration paid, which, in the case of stamp duty, will be rounded up to £5 or multiples thereof. The transfer of X-CAPs in registered form to, or to a nominee or agent for, a person whose business (i) is or includes issuing depositary receipts or (ii) is or includes the provision of clearance services, may give rise to a liability to UK stamp duty or (to the extent that UK stamp duty is not paid on an instrument of transfer) UK SDRT, generally at the rate of 1.5% of the price of the X-CAPs transferred, which, in the case of stamp duty, will be rounded up to £5 or multiples thereof. Such transfer of X-CAPs in bearer form may give rise to a charge to UK SDRT generally at the rate of 1.5% of the price of the X-CAPs transferred. A charge to UK SDRT may also arise on the issue of X-CAPs whether in registered or bearer form to, or to a nominee or agent for, a person whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts or includes the provision of clearance services, generally at the rate of 1.5% of the price of the X-CAPs issued.

PROs
United States

Payments of interest on a PRO (including any UK tax withheld therefrom) will constitute foreign source dividend income for US federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of the current or accumulated earnings and profits of the company, as determined for US federal income tax purposes. Payments will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporate US Holders. A US Holder who is entitled under the Treaty to a refund of UK tax, if any, withheld on a payment will not be entitled to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to such tax. See ‘United Kingdom – Taxation of Payments on the PROs’ below for a discussion of circumstances in which UK withholding may apply.

Subject to applicable limitations that may vary depending upon a holder’s individual circumstances, dividends paid to certain non-corporate US Holders in taxable years beginning before 1 January 2009 will be taxable at a maximum tax rate of 15%. Non-corporate US Holders should consult their own tax advisers to determine whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to be taxed at this favourable rate.

A US Holder will, upon the sale, exchange or redemption of a PRO, generally recognise capital gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realised (excluding any amount in respect of mandatory interest and any Missed Payments which are to be satisfied on a Missed Payment Satisfaction Date, which would be treated as ordinary income) and the US Holder’s tax basis in the PRO (assuming, in the case of a redemption, that such US Holder does not own, and is not deemed to own, any ordinary shares of the company). A US Holder who is liable for both UK and US tax on a gain recognised on the disposal of PROs will generally be entitled, subject to certain limitations, to credit the UK tax against its US federal income tax liability in respect of such gain.

United Kingdom
Taxation of payments on the PROs

Payments on the PROs will constitute interest rather than dividends for UK withholding tax purposes. However, the PROs will constitute “quoted eurobonds” within the meaning of section 349 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 and therefore payments of interest will not be subject to withholding or deduction for or on account of UK taxation as long as the PROs remain at all times listed on a ‘recognised stock exchange’ within the meaning of section 841 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. In all other cases, an amount must be withheld on account of UK income tax at the lower rate (currently 20%) subject to any direction to the contrary by the Inland Revenue under the Treaty and except that the withholding obligation is disapplied in respect of payments to persons who the company reasonably believes are within the charge to corporation tax or fall within various categories enjoying a special tax status (including charities and pension funds), or are partnerships consisting of such persons (unless the Inland Revenue directs otherwise). Where interest

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has been paid under deduction of UK withholding tax, US Holders may be able to recover the tax deducted under the Treaty. If interest were paid under deduction of UK income tax (e.g., if the PROs lost their listing), US Holders may be able to claim a refund of the tax deducted under the Treaty.

Any paying agent or other person by or through whom interest is paid to, or by whom interest is received on behalf of, an individual, may be required to provide information in relation to the payment and the individual concerned to the UK Inland Revenue. The Inland Revenue may communicate this information to the tax authorities of other jurisdictions.

The UK Inland Revenue confirmed at around the time of the issue of the PROs that interest payments would not be treated as distributions for UK tax purposes by reason of (i) the fact that interest may be deferred under the terms of issue or (ii) the undated nature of the PROs, provided that at the time an interest payment is made, the PROs are not held by a company which is ‘associated’ with the company or by a ‘funded company’. A company will be associated with the company if, broadly speaking, it is part of the same group as the company. A company will be a ‘funded company’ for these purposes if there are arrangements involving that company being put in funds (directly or indirectly) by the company, or an entity associated with the company. In this respect, the Inland Revenue has confirmed that a company holding an interest in the PROs which incidentally has banking facilities with any company associated with the company will not be a ‘funded company’ by virtue of such facilities.

Interest on the PROs constitutes UK source income for UK tax purposes and, as such, may be subject to income tax by direct assessment even where paid without withholding. However, interest with a UK source received without deduction or withholding on account of UK tax will not be chargeable to UK tax in the hands of a US Holder unless, in the case of a corporate US Holder, such US Holder carries on a trade in the UK through a UK permanent establishment or in the case of other US Holders, such persons carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a UK branch or agency in connection with which the interest is received or to which the PROs are attributable. There are exemptions for interest received by certain categories of agent (such as some brokers and investment managers).

EU Directive on taxation of savings income

The European Union has adopted a new directive regarding the taxation of savings income. Subject to a number of important conditions being met, Member States of the European Union will be required from a date not earlier than 1 July 2005 to provide to the tax authorities of other Member States details of payments of interest and other similar income paid by a person to an individual resident in another Member State, except that Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria will instead impose a withholding system for a transitional period unless during such period they elect otherwise.

Disposal (including redemption)

A disposal (including redemption) of PROs by a non-corporate US Holder, will not give rise to any liability to UK taxation on capital gains unless the US Holder carries on a trade (which for this purpose includes a profession or a vocation) in the UK through a branch or agency and the PROs are, or have been, held or acquired for the purposes of that trade, branch or agency.

A transfer of PROs by a US Holder will not give rise to a charge to UK tax on accrued but unpaid interest payments, unless the US Holder is an individual or other non-corporate tax payer and at any time in the relevant year of assessment or accounting period carries on a trade in the UK through a branch or agency to which the PROs are attributable.

Annual tax charges

Corporate US Holders of PROs may be subject to annual UK tax charges (or relief) by reference to fluctuations in exchange rates and in respect of profits, gains and losses arising from the PROs, but only if such corporate US Holders carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a UK permanent establishment to which the PROs are attributable.

Inheritance tax

In relation to PROs held through DTC (or any other clearing system), the UK inheritance tax position is not free from doubt in respect of a lifetime transfer, or death of, a US Holder who is not domiciled nor deemed to be domiciled in the UK for inheritance tax purposes; the UK Inland Revenue are known to consider that the situs of securities held in this manner is not necessarily determined by the place where the securities are registered. In appropriate circumstances, there may be a charge to UK inheritance tax as a result of a lifetime transfer at less than fair market value by, or on the death of, such US Holder. However, exemption from, or a reduction of, any such UK tax liability may be available under the Estate Tax Treaty. US Holders should consult their professional advisers in relation to such potential liability.

Stamp duty and SDRT

No stamp duty, SDRT or similar tax is imposed in the UK on the issue, transfer or redemption of the PROs.


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Shareholder information continued

Exchange controls

The company has been advised that there are currently no UK laws, decrees or regulations which would prevent the remittance of dividends or other payments to non-UK resident holders of the company’s non-cumulative dollar preference shares.

There are no restrictions under the articles of association of the company or under UK law, as currently in effect, which limit the right of non-UK resident owners to hold or, when entitled to vote, freely to vote the company’s non-cumulative dollar preference shares.

Documents on display

Documents concerning the company may be inspected at 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2YB (telephone 0131 556 8555).

In addition, we file reports and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy these reports and other information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room or at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange, on which certain of our securities are listed, at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov which contains in electronic form each of the reports and other information that we have filed electronically with the SEC.

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Important addresses
Shareholder enquiries
Registrar
Computershare Investor Services PLC
PO Box 82
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol BS99 7NH
Telephone: 0870 702 0135
Facsimile: 0870 703 6009

Group Secretariat
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
42 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh EH2 2YE
Telephone: 0131 523 0944
Facsimile: 0131 557 6140

Registered office
36 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh EH2 2YB
Telephone: 0131 556 8555

Registered in Scotland No. 45551

Website
www.rbs.com

Principal offices
The company
42 St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2YE

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
42 St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2YE
280 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4RB

National Westminster Bank Plc
135 Bishopsgate London EC2M 3UR

Citizens
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
One Citizens Plaza Providence Rhode Island 02903 USA

Ulster Bank
11-16 Donegall Square East Belfast BT1 5UB
George’s Quay Dublin 2

RBS Insurance
Direct Line House 3 Edridge Road Croydon Surrey CR9 1AG
Churchill Court West Moreland Road Bromley BR1 1DP

RBS Greenwich Capital
600 Steamboat Road
Greenwich Connecticut 06830 USA

Coutts Group
440 Strand London WC2R 0QS

The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited
Royal Bank House 71 Bath Street
St Helier Jersey Channel Islands JE4 8PJ

NatWest Offshore
23/25 Broad Street
St Helier Jersey Channel Islands JE4 8QG

 

The registered office of the company is 36 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh EH2 2YB (telephone 0131 556 8555).

The principal place of business of the company is
42 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2YE
(telephone 0131 556 8555).

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SEC Form 20-F cross reference guide

 Item   Item Caption   Pages
       
 PART I      
 1   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers   Not applicable
 2   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable   Not applicable
 3   Key Information  
       Selected financial data   148 - 151, 159
       Capitalisation and indebtedness   Not applicable
       Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds   Not applicable
       Risk factors   6
 4   Information on the Company   17 - 20, 46 - 49, 103, 151 - 158
       History and development of the Company   4 - 6, 62, 92, 106, 166, 171, 183
       Business overview   4 - 5, 130 - 132,162 - 165  
       Organisational structure   4, 104, 183
       Property, plants and equipment   166
 5   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects  
       Operating results   12 - 41, 57, 122, 162 - 165
       Liquidity and capital resources   40 - 41, 50 - 53, 62, 121 - 124, 158, 160 - 165
       Research and development, patents and licences etc.   Not applicable
       Trend information   6 - 7, 159
       Off-balance sheet arrangements   160-161
       Contractual obligations   161
 6   Directors, Senior Management and Employees  
       Directors and senior management   60-61
       Compensation   70 - 79
       Board practices   61, 66 - 69, 73 - 75
       Employees   37
       Share ownership   64, 77 - 78, 80
 7   Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions  
       Major shareholders   63, 166
       Related party transactions   133
       Interests of experts and counsel   Not applicable
 8   Financial Information  
       Consolidated statements and other financial information   84 - 145
       Significant changes   145

184




Item   Item Caption   Pages  
       
9   The Offer and Listing  
       Offer and listing details   170  
       Plan of distribution   Not applicable  
       Markets   169 - 170  
       Selling shareholders   Not applicable  
       Dilution   Not applicable  
       Expenses of the issue   Not applicable  
10   Additional Information  
       Share capital   Not applicable  
       Memorandum and articles of association   171 - 177  
       Material contracts   166  
       Exchange controls   182  
       Taxation   177 - 181  
       Dividends and paying agents   Not applicable  
       Statement by experts   Not applicable  
       Documents on display   182  
       Subsidiary information   Not applicable  
11   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   42 - 58,  
    118 - 122,  
    152 - 158  
12   Description of Securities other than Equity Securities   Not applicable  
     
PART II    
13   Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies   Not applicable  
14   Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds   Not applicable  
15   Controls and Procedures   69  
16   [Reserved]  
16A A Audit Committee financial expert   67  
B Code of ethics   67  
C Principal Accountant Fees and services   67, 96  
D Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committee   Not applicable  
E Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers  
         No such purchases were made during the year ended 31 December 2004.      
           
PART III          
17   Financial Statements   Not applicable  
18   Financial Statements   84 - 145  
19   Exhibits   186  
    Signature   187  

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Exhibit Index  
     
Exhibit   Description
Number  
     
1.1 *   Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
       
4.1     Contract of employment for Sir Frederick A. Goodwin
       
4.2 ***   Service contract for Iain Robertson
       
4.3     Consulting Agreement for Bud Koch
       
4.3.1     Supplementary Agreement for Bud Koch
       
4.4     Service contract for Fred Watt
       
4.5 **   Service contract for Gordon Pell
       
4.5.1 ****   Variation agreement to service contract for Gordon Pell
       
4.6 ***   Service contract for Lawrence Fish
     
4.7 **   Service contract for Norman McLuskie
     
4.8 ***   Variation agreement to service contract for Norman McLuskie
     
7.1   Explanation of ratio calculations
     
8.1   Principal subsidiaries of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
     
12.1   CEO certification required by Rule 13a-14(a)
     
12.2   CFO certification required by Rule 13a-14(a)
     
13.1   Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b)
     
15.1   Independent auditors’ consent

* Previously filed and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Post-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-100661).

** Previously filed and incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4.5 and 4.3, respectively, to the Group’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2000 (File No. 1-10306).

*** Previously filed and incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4.2, 4.6 and 4.3.1, respectively, to the Group’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2003 (File No. 1-10306).

**** Previously filed and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5.1 to the Group’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2002 (File No. 1-10306).


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Signature

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
Registrant

/s/ Fred Watt

Frederick Inglis Watt
Group Finance Director


29 March 2005


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