Sale of 70% esure Stake Annou

RNS Number : 0161H

Lloyds Banking Group PLC

11 February 2010

 

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LLOYDS BANKING GROUP ANNOUNCES SALE OF 70% ESURE STAKE

Lloyds Banking Group is today announcing the sale of its 70 per cent stake in esure, the online insurer, to a management buyout vehicle to be called esure Group Holdings Ltd, led by esure chairman Peter Wood, for a cash consideration slightly in excess of book value in the Lloyds Banking Group accounts (31 December 2008: £185 million).  As at 31 December 2008, esure had gross assets of £975.5 million (including assets backing insurance liabilities).  The impact on the Group's accounts is not expected to be material.

esure, which includes the Sheilas' Wheels brand, was founded in 2000 as a joint venture by Peter Wood and the then Halifax plc.  esure now offers home, motor, travel and pet insurance, using the internet as a primary sales channel.

Lloyds Banking Group is the largest provider of household insurance in the UK and primarily operates through two main brands; Lloyds TSB General Insurance and Halifax General Insurance.  These operations provide household, motor, travel, pet, business, healthcare and creditor protection insurance products.

esure staff will continue to be employed by esure Services Ltd.

Archie Kane, Group Executive Director Insurance, Lloyds Banking Group said:

"This sale means we can focus our efforts on our core general insurance brands of Halifax and Lloyds TSB.  Our priority is to deliver strong insurance products and excellent customer service across the general insurance business, thereby reinforcing our reputation as a market-leading insurance provider."

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For further information:

Investor Relations

Michael Oliver                                                                        [phone]

Director of Investor Relations

Email: [e-mail]

Douglas Radcliffe                                                                  [phone]

Head of Investor Relations

Email: [e-mail]

Media Relations

Shane O'Riordain                                                                  [phone]

Group Communications Director

Email: shane.o'[e-mail]

Richard Janes                                                                       [phone]

Media Relations Manager

Email: [e-mail]

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This announcement contains forward looking statements with respect to the business, strategy and plans of the Lloyds Banking Group, its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance.  By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future.  The Group's actual future results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied in these forward looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including UK domestic and global economic and business conditions, the ability to derive cost savings and other benefits as well as to mitigate exposures from the acquisition and integration of HBOS, risks concerning borrower quality, market related trends and developments, changing demographic trends, changes in customer preferences, changes to regulation, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities in the UK or jurisdictions outside the UK, including other European countries and the US, exposure to regulatory scrutiny, legal proceedings or complaints, competition and other factors.  Please refer to the latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of such factors.  The forward looking statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, and the Group undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward looking statements.

 

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