Moddy's rating review
OUTCOME OF MOODY'S RATING REVIEW REFLECTS SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN DELIVERING STRATEGY
As part of a rating review across 114 European financial institutions announced on 15 February 2012, Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) last night published the outcome of its rating review of Lloyds TSB Bank plc.
The outcome of the review reflects the substantial progress we are making in delivering our strategy to reshape the business, strengthen our balance sheet, simplify our operations and invest behind our leading franchises.
Moody's have confirmed that Lloyds TSB Bank plc's short-term Prime-1 rating remains unchanged. The longer-term senior debt and deposit ratings have been lowered by only one notch to A2 from A1, and the standalone credit assessment has also been lowered by only one notch to baa2 from baa1. The outlook is stable on the standalone credit assessment, and negative on the A2 senior debt and deposit ratings reflecting Moody's medium-term view of lower systemic support for UK banks.
In their rating, Moody's have recognised the strength of our leading UK-based customer franchises and substantial progress we have made in delivering our strategic plan. Moody's have particularly acknowledged our strong capital ratios and our track record of delivering on our restructuring targets, including the integration of HBOS, the reduction of non-core assets, and our progress on strengthening the bank's funding and liquidity profile. Although the lowering of the senior debt and deposit ratings reflects the challenging operating environment in the UK and also in Europe and our use of wholesale funding, these new ratings are not expected to have a material effect on our funding costs and market capacity.
António Horta-Osório, Group Chief Executive, said: "I am pleased that Moody's have recognised the substantial momentum we have made in de-risking our balance sheet and delivering on our strategy. I expect this momentum to be sustained as we continue to deliver on our promise of being the best bank for customers and shareholders."
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