Interim Management Statement - Part 5 of 6

RNS Number : 4912R
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
04 November 2011
 



 

Risk and balance sheet management

 

Key terms and acronyms used in this section are defined in the glossary of terms.

 

Balance sheet management

 

Capital

The Group aims to maintain an appropriate level of capital to meet its business needs and regulatory requirements as capital adequacy and risk management are closely aligned. The Group's risk asset ratios calculated in accordance with Financial Services Authority (FSA) definitions are set out below.

 


30 September 

2011 

30 June 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Risk-weighted assets (RWAs)

£bn 

£bn 

£bn 





Credit risk

346.8 

366.1 

385.9 

Counterparty risk

72.2 

66.1 

68.1 

Market risk

55.0 

58.6 

80.0 

Operational risk

37.9 

37.9 

37.1 






511.9 

528.7 

571.1 

Benefit of Asset Protection Scheme

(88.6)

(95.2)

(105.6)






423.3 

433.5 

465.5 

 

Risk asset ratio





Core Tier 1

11.3 

11.1 

10.7 

Tier 1

13.8 

13.5 

12.9 

Total

14.7 

14.4 

14.0 

 

Key points

·

The Core Tier 1 ratio increased in the quarter, due to a reduction in RWAs.



·

Credit risk RWAs decreased by £19.3 billion principally driven by asset run-off, disposals and restructurings.



·

Market risk RWAs decreased by £3.6 billion reflecting de-risking of the Non-Core portfolio and a reduction in VaR.



·

The reduction in APS RWA benefit mainly reflects the run-off of covered assets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Capital (continued)

 

The Group's capital resources in accordance with FSA definitions were as follows:

 


30 September 

2011 

30 June 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Composition of regulatory capital

£m 

£m 

£m 





Tier 1




Ordinary and B shareholders' equity

72,699 

70,000 

70,388 

Non-controlling interests

1,433 

1,498 

1,719 

Adjustments for:




  - goodwill and other intangible assets - continuing businesses

(14,744)

(14,592)

(14,448)

  - unrealised losses on available-for-sale (AFS) debt securities

379 

1,103 

2,061 

  - reserves arising on revaluation of property and unrealised gains on

    AFS equities

(88)

(76)

(25)

  - reallocation of preference shares and innovative securities

(548)

(548)

(548)

  - other regulatory adjustments*

(3,465)

(1,014)

(1,097)

Less excess of expected losses over provisions net of tax

(2,127)

(2,156)

(1,900)

Less securitisation positions

(2,164)

(2,404)

(2,321)

Less APS first loss

(3,545)

(3,810)

(4,225)





Core Tier 1 capital

47,830 

48,001 

49,604 

Preference shares

5,398 

5,372 

5,410 

Innovative Tier 1 securities

4,644 

4,564 

4,662 

Tax on the excess of expected losses over provisions

767 

777 

758 

Less material holdings

(303)

(327)

(310)





Total Tier 1 capital

58,336 

58,387 

60,124 





Tier 2




Reserves arising on revaluation of property and unrealised gains on AFS

  equities

88 

76 

25 

Collective impairment provisions

728 

715 

778 

Perpetual subordinated debt

1,837 

1,858 

1,852 

Term subordinated debt

14,999 

15,697 

16,745 

Non-controlling and other interests in Tier 2 capital

11 

11 

11 

Less excess of expected losses over provisions

(2,894)

(2,933)

(2,658)

Less securitisation positions

(2,164)

(2,404)

(2,321)

Less material holdings

(303)

(327)

(310)

Less APS first loss

(3,545)

(3,810)

(4,225)





Total Tier 2 capital

8,757 

8,883 

9,897 





Supervisory deductions




Unconsolidated investments




  - RBS Insurance

(4,292)

(4,176)

(3,962)

  - other investments

(262)

(354)

(318)

Other deductions

(311)

(419)

(452)





Deductions from total capital

(4,865)

(4,949)

(4,732)





Total regulatory capital

62,228 

62,321 

65,289 





* Includes reduction for own liabilities carried at fair value

(2,931)

(1,112)

(1,182)

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Capital(continued)

 

Movement in Core Tier 1 capital

£m 



At 1 January 2011

49,604 

Attributable loss net of movement in fair value of own debt

(1,355)

Foreign currency reserves

(304)

Decrease in capital deductions including APS first loss

76 

Decrease in non-controlling interests

(221)

Other movements

201 



At 30 June 2011

48,001 

Attributable loss net of movement in fair value of own debt

(593)

Foreign currency reserves

13 

Decrease in capital deductions including APS first loss

534 

Decrease in non-controlling interests

(65)

Other movements

(60)



At 30 September 2011

47,830 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Capital: Risk-weighted assets by division

Risk-weighted assets by risk category and division are set out below.

 


Credit 

risk 

Counterparty 

risk 

Market 

risk 

Operational 

risk 

Gross 

RWAs 

APS 

relief 

Net 

RWAs 

30 September 2011

£bn 

£bn 

£bn 

£bn 

£bn 

£bn 

£bn 









UK Retail

41.4 

7.3 

48.7 

(9.9)

38.8 

UK Corporate

69.0 

6.7 

75.7 

(16.9)

58.8 

Wealth

11.0 

0.1 

1.9 

13.0 

13.0 

Global Transaction Services

13.7 

4.9 

18.6 

18.6 

Ulster Bank

32.0 

0.5 

0.1 

1.8 

34.4 

(6.7)

27.7 

US Retail & Commercial

51.0 

1.1 

4.4 

56.5 

56.5 









Retail & Commercial

218.1 

1.6 

0.2 

27.0 

246.9 

(33.5)

213.4 

Global Banking & Markets

46.1 

35.1 

37.6 

15.5 

134.3 

(10.4)

123.9 

Other

8.8 

0.3 

0.7 

9.8 

9.8 









Core

273.0 

37.0 

37.8 

43.2 

391.0 

(43.9)

347.1 

Non-Core

71.0 

35.2 

17.2 

(5.5)

117.9 

(44.7)

73.2 









Group before RFS MI

344.0 

72.2 

55.0 

37.7 

508.9 

(88.6)

420.3 

RFS MI

2.8 

0.2 

3.0 

3.0 









Group

346.8 

72.2 

55.0 

37.9 

511.9 

(88.6)

423.3 









30 June 2011
















UK Retail

42.2 

7.3 

49.5 

(10.7)

38.8 

UK Corporate

71.2 

6.7 

77.9 

(19.3)

58.6 

Wealth

10.9 

0.1 

1.9 

12.9 

12.9 

Global Transaction Services

13.9 

4.9 

18.8 

18.8 

Ulster Bank

33.9 

0.5 

0.1 

1.8 

36.3 

(7.6)

28.7 

US Retail & Commercial

49.6 

0.8 

4.4 

54.8 

54.8 









Retail & Commercial

221.7 

1.3 

0.2 

27.0 

250.2 

(37.6)

212.6 

Global Banking & Markets

51.2 

31.4 

40.9 

15.5 

139.0 

(10.3)

128.7 

Other

10.7 

0.4 

0.7 

11.8 

11.8 









Core

283.6 

33.1 

41.1 

43.2 

401.0 

(47.9)

353.1 

Non-Core

79.7 

33.0 

17.5 

(5.5)

124.7 

(47.3)

77.4 









Group before RFS MI

363.3 

66.1 

58.6 

37.7 

525.7 

(95.2)

430.5 

RFS MI

2.8 

0.2 

3.0 

3.0 









Group

366.1 

66.1 

58.6 

37.9 

528.7 

(95.2)

433.5 

 

31 December 2010
















UK Retail

41.7 

7.1 

48.8 

(12.4)

36.4 

UK Corporate

74.8 

6.6 

81.4 

(22.9)

58.5 

Wealth

10.4 

0.1 

2.0 

12.5 

12.5 

Global Transaction Services

13.7 

4.6 

18.3 

18.3 

Ulster Bank

29.2 

0.5 

0.1 

1.8 

31.6 

(7.9)

23.7 

US Retail & Commercial

52.0 

0.9 

4.1 

57.0 

57.0 









Retail & Commercial

221.8 

1.4 

0.2 

26.2 

249.6 

(43.2)

206.4 

Global Banking & Markets

53.5 

34.5 

44.7 

14.2 

146.9 

(11.5)

135.4 

Other

16.4 

0.4 

0.2 

1.0 

18.0 

18.0 









Core

291.7 

36.3 

45.1 

41.4 

414.5 

(54.7)

359.8 

Non-Core

91.3 

31.8 

34.9 

(4.3)

153.7 

(50.9)

102.8 









Group before RFS MI

383.0 

68.1 

80.0 

37.1 

568.2 

(105.6)

462.6 

RFS MI

2.9 

2.9 

2.9 









Group

385.9 

68.1 

80.0 

37.1 

571.1 

 (105.6)

465.5 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Capital (continued)

 

CRD 3 and Basel III impacts

The estimated impact of CRD 3 rules on the Group's RWAs post mitigation is an increase of c.£20 billion. This is lower than the initial estimates of £25 billion to £30 billion and reflects mitigation, restructuring and continuing risk reduction.

 

The implementation of the Basel III proposals in 2013 is now estimated to result in an increase in RWAs of £60 billion to £75 billion. This is lower than the previous estimate of £75 billion to £85 billion, due to risk reduction and mitigation in both GBM and Non-Core.

 

The combined impact of CRD 3 and Basel III on the Group's RWAs is now estimated to be some £20 billion or 20% lower than the previous estimates.

 

Funding and liquidity risk

The Group's balance sheet composition is a function of the broad array of product offerings and diverse markets served by its Core divisions. The structural composition of the balance sheet is augmented as needed through active management of both asset and liability portfolios. The objective of these activities is to optimise liquidity transformation in normal business environments while ensuring adequate coverage of all cash requirements under extreme stress conditions.

 

Diversification of the Group's funding base is central to its liquidity management strategy. The Group's businesses have developed large customer franchises based on strong relationship management and high quality service. These customer franchises are strongest in the UK, US and Ireland but extend into Europe and Asia. Customer deposits provide large pools of stable funding to support the majority of the Group's lending. It is a strategic objective to improve the Group's loan to deposit ratio to 100%, or better, by 2013.

 

The Group also accesses professional markets funding by way of public and private debt issuances on an unsecured and secured basis. These debt issuance programmes are spread across multiple currencies and maturities to appeal to a broad range of investor types and preferences around the world. This market based funding supplements the Group's structural liquidity needs and in some cases achieves certain capital objectives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk (continued)

 

Funding sources

The table below shows the Group's primary funding sources, excluding repurchase agreements.

 


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


31 December 2010


£m 


£m 


£m 










Deposits by banks









  - central banks

3,568 

0.5 


4,469 

0.6 


6,655 

0.9 

  - derivative cash collateral

32,466 

4.4 


25,524 

3.5 


28,074 

3.8 

  - other

42,336 

5.8 


41,580 

5.6 


31,322 

4.3 











78,370 

10.7 


71,573 

9.7 


66,051 

9.0 










Debt securities in issue









  - conduit asset backed commercial paper

11,783 

1.6 


12,894 

1.7 


17,320 

2.3 

  - other commercial paper

8,680 

1.2 


9,475 

1.3 


8,915 

1.2 

  - certificates of deposits

25,036 

3.4 


35,305 

4.8 


37,855 

5.1 

  - medium-term notes (MTNs)

127,719 

17.4 


132,371 

17.9 


131,026 

17.7 

  - covered bonds

8,541 

1.2 


6,972 

0.9 


4,100 

0.6 

  - securitisations

12,752 

1.7 


16,780 

2.3 


19,156 

2.6 











194,511 

26.5 


213,797 

28.9 


218,372 

29.5 

Subordinated liabilities

26,275 

3.6 


26,311 

3.5 


27,053 

3.6 










Debt securities in issue and subordinated

  liabilities

220,786 

30.1 


240,108 

32.4 


245,425 

33.1 










Wholesale funding

299,156 

40.8 


311,681 

42.1 


311,476 

42.1 










Customer deposits









  - cash collateral

10,278 

1.4 


11,166 

1.5 


10,433 

1.4 

  - other

423,382 

57.8 


417,537 

56.4 


418,166 

56.5 










Total customer deposits

433,660 

59.2 


428,703 

57.9 


428,599 

57.9 










Total funding

732,816 

100.0 


740,384 

100.0 


740,075 

100.0 

 

 


30 September 

2011 

30 June 

2011 

31 December 

2010 


£bn 

£bn 

£bn 





Short-term wholesale funding

173.8 

173.5 

157.5 

Of which - bank deposits

74.0 

67.0 

62.5 

               - other

99.8 

106.5 

95.0 





Short-term wholesale funding excluding derivative collateral

141.3 

148.0 

129.4 

Of which - bank deposits

41.5 

41.5 

34.4 

               - other

99.8 

106.5 

95.0 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk: Funding sources (continued)

 

Key points

·

Customer deposits increased by £5.0 billion during the quarter from £428.7 billion to £433.7 billion, driven by growth in retail and corporate deposits. Customer deposits as a proportion of total funding increased slightly to 59.2% at 30 September 2011 compared with 57.9% at 30 June 2011 and 31 December 2010.



·

The proportion of funding from customer deposits excluding cash collateral increased slightly to 57.8% from 56.4% at 30 June 2011 and 56.5% at 31 December 2010.



·

Short-term wholesale funding excluding derivative collateral and bank deposits reduced in Q3 2011 to £99.8 billion compared with £106.5 billion at the half year. Term debt maturing within one year amounts to £54.6 billion (including £40 billion relating to the UK Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS)) of which, £20.1 billion matures in Q4 2011.

 

The table below shows the Group's debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities by remaining maturity.

 


Conduit 

asset 

backed 

commercial 

paper 

Other 

CP and 

 CDs 

MTNs 

Covered 

bonds 

Securitisations 

Total 

Subordinated 

liabilities 

Total 



£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











30 September 2011










Less than 1 year

11,783 

32,914 

54,622 

43 

99,362 

400 

99,762 

45.2 

1-3 years

795 

28,456 

2,800 

26 

32,077 

2,045 

34,122 

15.5 

3-5 years

18,049 

3,037 

33 

21,121 

8,265 

29,386 

13.3 

More than 5 years

26,592 

2,704 

12,650 

41,951 

15,565 

57,516 

26.0 












11,783 

33,716 

127,719 

8,541 

12,752 

194,511 

26,275 

220,786 

100.0 











30 June 2011










Less than 1 year

12,894 

43,974 

49,174 

43 

106,085 

399 

106,484 

44.3 

1-3 years

788 

33,366 

1,114 

18 

35,286 

1,962 

37,248 

15.6 

3-5 years

13 

19,028 

3,154 

33 

22,228 

8,316 

30,544 

12.7 

More than 5 years

30,803 

2,704 

16,686 

50,198 

15,634 

65,832 

27.4 












12,894 

44,780 

132,371 

6,972 

16,780 

213,797 

26,311 

240,108 

100.0 











31 December 2010










Less than 1 year

17,320 

46,051 

30,589 

88 

94,048 

964 

95,012 

38.7 

1-3 years

702 

47,357 

1,078 

12 

49,149 

754 

49,903 

20.3 

3-5 years

12 

21,466 

1,294 

34 

22,806 

8,476 

31,282 

12.8 

More than 5 years

31,614 

1,728 

19,022 

52,369 

16,859 

69,228 

28.2 












17,320 

46,770 

131,026 

4,100 

19,156 

218,372 

27,053 

245,425 

100.0 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk: Funding sources (continued)

 

Long-term debt issuances

The table below shows debt securities issued by the Group with an original maturity of one year or more. The Group also executes other long-term funding arrangements (predominately term repos) which are not reflected in the following tables.

 


Quarter ended


Nine months ended


30 September 

2011 

30 June 

2011 

30 September 

2010 


30 September 

2011 

30 September 

2010 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 








Public







  - unsecured

1,808 

6,254 


5,085 

12,112 

  - secured

1,721 

2,211 

5,286 


6,584 

6,316 

Private







  - unsecured

3,255 

3,997 

6,299 


11,503 

12,827 








Gross issuance

4,976 

8,016 

17,839 


23,172 

31,255 

 

The table below shows the original maturity of public long-term debt securities issued in the nine months ended 30 September 2011 and 2010.

 


2-3 years 

3-5years 

5-10 years 

> 10 years 

Total 

Nine months ended 30 September 2011

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 







MTNs

904 

1,407 

1,839 

935 

5,085 

Covered bonds

1,721 

2,652 

4,373 

Securitisations

2,211 

2,211 








904 

3,128 

4,491 

3,146 

11,669 







% of total

8% 

27% 

38% 

27% 

100% 







Nine months ended 30 September 2010












MTNs

1,445 

1,541 

6,393 

2,733 

12,112 

Covered bonds

1,030 

1,244 

2,274 

Securitisations

4,042 

4,042 








1,445 

2,571 

7,637 

6,775 

18,428 







% of total

8% 

14% 

41% 

37% 

100% 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk: Funding sources (continued)

 

Long-term debt issuance (continued)

The table below shows the currency breakdown of public and private long-term debt securities issued in the nine months ended 30 September 2011 and 2010.

 


GBP 

EUR 

USD 

AUD 

Other 

Total 

Nine months ended 30 September 2011

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 








Public







  - MTNs

1,808 

2,181 

1,096 

5,085 

  - covered bonds

4,373 

4,373 

  - securitisations

258 

1,293 

660 

2,211 

Private

2,193 

3,513 

2,996 

280 

2,521 

11,503 









2,451 

10,987 

5,837 

1,376 

2,521 

23,172 








% of total

11% 

47% 

25% 

6% 

11% 

100% 








Nine months ended 30 September 2010














Public







  - MTNs

1,260 

3,969 

5,131 

1,040 

712 

12,112 

  - covered bonds

2,274 

2,274 

  - securitisations

663 

1,629 

1,750 

4,042 

Private

1,926 

7,671 

1,683 

106 

1,441 

12,827 









3,849 

15,543 

8,564 

1,146 

2,153 

31,255 








% of total

12% 

50% 

27% 

4% 

7% 

100% 

 

Key points

·

Despite the difficult economic environment gross term issuances in Q3 2011 were £5.0 billion, including €2.0 billion of covered bonds issued publicly. The Group has executed £3.5 billion of securitisation transactions in October 2011, and continues to access markets as opportunities arise.



·

The Group has continued to diversify its funding mix with 47% of issuance denominated in euros, 25% in US dollars and 28% in other currencies.



·

The Group has already met its full year target for long-term debt issuance of £23 billion.



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk (continued)

 

Liquidity portfolio

The table below shows the composition of the Group's liquidity portfolio.

 


30 September 

2011 

30 June 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Liquidity portfolio

£m 

£m 

£m 





Cash and balances at central banks

76,833 

59,010 

53,661 

Treasury bills

4,037 

8,600 

14,529 

Central and local government bonds (1)




  - AAA rated governments and US agencies

29,850 

47,999 

41,435 

  - AA- to AA+ rated governments (2)

18,077 

1,399 

3,744 

  - governments rated below AA

700 

836 

1,029 

  - local government

4,700 

4,881 

5,672 






53,327 

55,115 

51,880 

Unencumbered collateral (3)




  - AAA rated

24,186 

18,335 

17,836 

  - below AAA rated and other high quality assets

11,444 

13,493 

16,693 






35,630 

31,828 

34,529 





Total liquidity portfolio

169,827 

154,553 

154,599 

 

Notes:

(1)

Includes FSA eligible government bonds of £36.8 billion at 30 September 2011 (30 June 2011 - £34.5 billion; 31 December 2010 - £34.7 billion).

(2)

Includes AAA rated US government guaranteed and US government sponsored agencies. The US government was downgraded from AAA to AA+ by S&P on 5 August 2011 and its debt securities carry a split credit rating; these securities are reflected here.

(3)

Includes secured assets eligible for discounting at central banks, comprising loans and advances and debt securities.

 

Key points

·

The Group's liquidity portfolio was £169.8 billion, an increase of £15.3 billion from 30 June 2011 and £15.2 billion from 31 December 2010, mainly due to an increase in cash at central banks. The Group strengthened its liquidity portfolio in response to the ongoing stress in global financial markets which worsened during Q3 2011.



·

The strategic target of £150 billion is unchanged.



·

The liquidity portfolio is actively managed and as such its composition varies over time in accordance with factors such as changing external market conditions. 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk (continued)

 

Net stable funding

The table below shows the Group's net stable funding ratio (NSFR) estimated by applying the Basel III guidance issued in December 2010; the Group is aiming to meet the minimum required NSFR of 100% over the longer term. This measure seeks to show the proportion of structural term assets which are funded by stable funding including customer deposits, long-term wholesale funding and equity. The Group's NSFR will continue to be refined over time in line with regulatory developments.

 


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


31 December 2010





ASF (1)



ASF (1)



ASF (1)


Weighting 


£bn 

£bn 


£bn 

£bn 


£bn 

£bn 













Equity

79 

79 


76 

76 


77 

77 


100 

Wholesale funding > 1 year

125 

125 


138 

138 


154 

154 


100 

Wholesale funding < 1 year

174 


174 


157 


Derivatives

562 


388 


424 


Repurchase agreements

132 


124 


115 


Deposits











  - Retail and SME - more stable

170 

153 


168 

151 


172 

155 


90 

  - Retail and SME - less stable

25 

20 


25 

20 


51 

41 


80 

  - Other

239 

120 


236 

118 


206 

103 


50 

Other (2)

102 


117 


98 













Total liabilities and equity

1,608 

497 


1,446 

503 


1,454 

530 














Cash

78 


64 


57 


Inter-bank lending

53 


53 


58 


Debt securities > 1 year











  - central and local governments AAA

    to AA-

84 


87 


89 


  - other eligible bonds

75 

15 


85 

17 


75 

15 


20 

  - other bonds

17 

17 


19 

19 


10 

10 


100 

Debt securities < 1 year

54 


53 


43 


Derivatives

572 


395 


427 


Reverse repurchase agreements

102 


98 


95 


Customer loans and advances > 1 year











  - residential mortgages

144 

94 


145 

94 


145 

94 


65 

  - other

176 

176 


182 

182 


211 

211 


100 

Customer loans and advances < 1 year











  - retail loans

20 

17 


20 

17 


22 

19 


85 

  - other

146 

73 


143 

72 


125 

63 


50 

Other (3)

87 

87 


102 

102 


97 

97 


100 












Total assets

1,608 

483 


1,446 

507 


1,454 

513 














Undrawn commitments

245 

12 


250 

13 


267 

13 













Total assets and undrawn commitments

1,853 

495 


1,696 

520 


1,721 

526 














Net stable funding ratio


100% 



97% 



101% 



 

Notes:

(1)

Available stable funding.

(2)

Deferred tax, insurance liabilities and other liabilities.

(3)

Prepayments, accrued income, deferred tax and other assets.

 

Key point

·

The Group's net stable funding ratio improved to 100% during Q3 2011 from 97% mainly as a result of increased deposits and the reduction in GBM and Non-Core assets.



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk (continued)

 

Loan deposit ratio and funding gap

The table below shows quarterly trends in the loan to deposit ratio and customer funding gap. 

 


Loan to

deposit ratio (1)


Customer 

 funding gap 


Group 

Core 


Group 



£bn 






30 September 2011

112 

95 


52 

30 June 2011

114 

96 


61 

31 March 2011

115 

96 


66 

31 December 2010

117 

96 


74 

30 September 2010

126 

101 


107 

 

Note:

(1)

Loans are net of provisions.

 

Key points

·

The Group's loan to deposit ratio improved by 500 basis points to 112% in the nine months to 30 September 2011, including a 200 basis points improvement in Q3 2011. The customer funding gap narrowed by £22 billion in the nine months to 30 September 2011, including a £9 billion reduction in Q3 2011, primarily due to the reduction in Non-Core customer loans and an increase in customer deposits.



·

The loan to deposit ratio for the Group's Core business improved by 100 basis points during Q3 2011.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Balance sheet management: Funding and liquidity risk (continued)

 

Sensitivity of net interest income

The Group seeks to mitigate the effect of prospective interest rate movements which could reduce future net interest income through its management of interest rate risk in the Group's businesses, whilst balancing the cost of such activities on the current net revenue stream. Hedging activities also consider the impact on market value sensitivity under stress.

 

The following table shows the sensitivity of net interest income over the next twelve months to an immediate up and down 100 basis points change to all interest rates. In addition, the table includes the impact of a gradual 400 basis point steepening and a gradual 300 basis point flattening of the yield curve at tenors greater than a year.


30 September 

2011 

£m 

30 June 

2011 

£m 




+ 100bp shift in yield curves

188 

319 

- 100bp shift in yield curves

(74)

(141)

Bear steepener

487 

417 

Bull flattener

(248)

(309)

 

Key points

·

The Group's interest rate exposure remains slightly asset sensitive driven in part by changes to underlying business assumptions as rates rise. The impact of the steepening and flattening scenarios is largely driven by the investment of net free reserves.



·

The reported sensitivity will vary over time due to a number of factors such as changing market conditions and strategic changes to the balance sheet mix and should not therefore be considered predictive of future performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss due to the failure of customers or counterparties to meet payment obligations. The quantum and nature of credit risk assumed across the Group's different businesses varies considerably, while the overall credit risk outcome usually exhibits a high degree of correlation with the macroeconomic environment.

 

Loans and advances to customers by industry and geography

The table below shows loans and advances to customers excluding reverse repos and assets of disposal groups. All assets, including loans, of businesses held for disposal are included as one line on the balance sheet, as required by IFRS.

 

 


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


31 December 2010


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 













Central and local government

8,097 

1,507 

9,604 


6,574 

1,507 

8,081 


6,781 

1,671 

8,452 

Finance

48,094 

4,884 

52,978 


47,545 

5,038 

52,583 


46,910 

7,651 

54,561 

Residential mortgages

143,941 

5,319 

149,260 


144,400 

5,509 

149,909 


140,359 

6,142 

146,501 

Personal lending

32,152 

2,810 

34,962 


32,224 

3,229 

35,453 


33,581 

3,891 

37,472 

Property

44,072 

40,628 

84,700 


44,539 

42,862 

87,401 


42,455 

47,651 

90,106 

Construction

7,992 

3,062 

11,054 


8,525 

3,070 

11,595 


8,680 

3,352 

12,032 

Manufacturing

24,816 

5,233 

30,049 


24,068 

6,293 

30,361 


25,797 

6,520 

32,317 

Service industries and

  business activities












  - retail, wholesale and repairs

22,207 

2,427 

24,634 


22,123 

2,598 

24,721 


21,974 

3,191 

25,165 

  - transport and storage

16,236 

6,009 

22,245 


15,243 

6,449 

21,692 


15,946 

8,195 

24,141 

  - health, education and

    recreation

16,224 

1,515 

17,739 


16,707 

1,547 

18,254 


17,456 

1,865 

19,321 

  - hotels and restaurants

7,841 

1,358 

9,199 


8,028 

1,452 

9,480 


8,189 

1,492 

9,681 

  - utilities

8,212 

1,725 

9,937 


7,487 

2,010 

9,497 


7,098 

2,110 

9,208 

  - other

24,744 

4,479 

29,223 


25,128 

4,966 

30,094 


24,464 

5,530 

29,994 

Agriculture, forestry and

  fishing

3,767 

135 

3,902 


3,791 

123 

3,914 


3,758 

135 

3,893 

Finance leases and

  instalment credit

8,404 

7,467 

15,871 


8,353 

7,920 

16,273 


8,321 

8,529 

16,850 

Interest accruals

661 

152 

813 


715 

176 

891 


831 

278 

1,109 













Gross loans

417,460 

88,710 

506,170 


415,450 

94,749 

510,199 


412,600 

108,203 

520,803 

Loan impairment provisions

(8,748)

(11,849)

(20,597)


(8,621)

(12,006)

(20,627)


(7,740)

(10,315)

(18,055)













Net loans

408,712 

76,861 

485,573 


406,829 

82,743 

489,572 


404,860 

97,888 

502,748 

 

 

Key point

·

Gross loans decreased by £4.0 billion in Q3 2011, across most sectors, including £2.7 billion in property, £0.5 billion in construction, £0.3 billion in manufacturing, £0.3 billion in hotels and restaurants reflecting run-offs, continued de-risking as well as subdued credit demand.

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: REIL

The table below analyses the Group's risk elements in lending (REIL) which do not take account of the value of any security held that could reduce the eventual loss should it occur, nor of any provisions. REIL is split into UK and overseas, based on the location of the lending office.

 


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


31 December 2010


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 













Impaired loans (1)












  - UK

9,222 

7,471 

16,693 


9,229 

7,812 

17,041 


8,575 

7,835 

16,410 

  - Overseas

6,695 

16,274 

22,969 


6,326 

16,268 

22,594 


4,936 

14,355 

19,291 














15,917 

23,745 

39,662 


15,555 

24,080 

39,635 


13,511 

22,190 

35,701 













Accruing loans past due

  90 days or more (2)












  - UK

1,648 

580 

2,228 


1,487 

583 

2,070 


1,434 

939 

2,373 

  - Overseas

580 

256 

836 


415 

230 

645 


262 

262 

524 














2,228 

836 

3,064 


1,902 

813 

2,715 


1,696 

1,201 

2,897 













Total REIL

18,145 

24,581 

42,726 


17,457 

24,893 

42,350 


15,207 

23,391 

38,598 













REIL as a % of gross

  loans and advances (3)

4.3% 

27.4% 

8.4% 


4.2% 

26.1% 

8.3% 


3.7% 

20.7% 

7.3% 

Provisions as a % of REIL

49% 

48% 

49% 


50% 

48% 

49% 


52% 

44% 

47% 

 

Notes:

(1)

All loans against which an impairment provision is held.

(2)

Loans where an impairment event has taken place but no impairment provision recognised. This category is used for fully collateralised non-revolving credit facilities.

(3)

Gross loans and advances to customers include assets of disposal groups and exclude repos.

 

Key points

·

REIL increased marginally by £0.4 billion in Q3 2011, driven by an increase in mortgage and corporate defaults in Core Ulster Bank. REIL increased by £4.1 billion in 2011 mainly due to an increase in commercial real estate REIL in the first half of 2011.



·

There were decreases in Retail & Commercial (from 49% to 48%) and GBM (from 66% to 57%) provision coverage ratios whilst Non-Core coverage ratio was broadly flat at 48% compared with the position at 30 June 2011. Group provision coverage ratio was unchanged at 49%.



·

REIL as a percentage of loans and advances now stands at 27.4% for Non-Core and 4.3% for Core, increasing from 26.1% and 4.2% respectively at 30 June 2011.

 

For sector, geography and divisional analysis of loans, REIL and impairments, refer to Appendix 3.



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: REIL (continued)

The table below details the movement in REIL for the nine months ended 30 September 2011.

 


Impaired loans


Other loans (1)


REIL


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 













At 1 January 2011

13,511 

22,190 

35,701 


1,696 

1,201 

2,897 


15,207 

23,391 

38,598 

Intra-group transfers

300 

(300)


81 

(81)


381 

(381)

Currency translation and

  other adjustments

165 

462 

627 


14 

12 

26 


179 

474 

653 

Additions

4,249 

5,383 

9,632 


1,362 

577 

1,939 


5,611 

5,960 

11,571 

Transfers

403 

284 

687 


(245)

(225)

(470)


158 

59 

217 

Disposals, repayments and

  restructurings

(2,055)

(3,027)

(5,082)


(1,006)

(671)

(1,677)


(3,061)

(3,698)

(6,759)

Amounts written-off

(1,018)

(912)

(1,930)



(1,018)

(912)

(1,930)













At 30 June 2011

15,555 

24,080 

39,635 


1,902 

813 

2,715 


17,457 

24,893 

42,350 

Currency translation and

  other adjustments

(165)

(629)

(794)


(19)

(15)

(34)


(184)

(644)

(828)

Additions

2,012 

1,527 

3,539 


781 

250 

1,031 


2,793 

1,777 

4,570 

Transfers

(3)

28 

25 


28 

(10)

18 


25 

18 

43 

Disposals, repayments and

  restructurings

(889)

(764)

(1,653)


(464)

(202)

(666)


(1,353)

(966)

(2,319)

Amounts written-off

(593)

(497)

(1,090)



(593)

(497)

(1,090)













At 30 September 2011

15,917 

23,745 

39,662 


2,228 

836 

3,064 


18,145 

24,581 

42,726 

 


Impaired loans


Other loans (1)


REIL


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 













At 1 January 2011

13,511 

22,190 

35,701 


1,696 

1,201 

2,897 


15,207 

23,391 

38,598 

Intra-group transfers

300 

(300)


81 

(81)


381 

(381)

Currency translation and

  other adjustments

(167)

(167)


(5)

(3)

(8)


(5)

(170)

(175)

Additions

6,261 

6,910 

13,171 


2,143 

827 

2,970 


8,404 

7,737 

16,141 

Transfers

400 

312 

712 


(217)

(235)

(452)


183 

77 

260 

Disposals, repayments and

  restructurings

(2,944)

(3,791)

(6,735)


(1,470)

(873)

(2,343)


(4,414)

(4,664)

(9,078)

Amounts written-off

(1,611)

(1,409)

(3,020)



(1,611)

(1,409)

(3,020)













At 30 September 2011

15,917 

23,745 

39,662 


2,228 

836 

3,064 


18,145 

24,581 

42,726 

 

Note:

(1)

Accruing loans past due 90 days or more (also see page 112).

 

Key point

·

Disposals and restructurings include £1,685 million of transfers to the performing book in the nine months ended September 2011 including £120 million in Q3 2011.

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Impairment provisions

 

Movement in loan impairment provisions

The following tables show the movement in impairment provisions for loans and advances to banks and customers.

 


Quarter ended


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


30 September 2010


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

RFS MI 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 














At beginning of period

8,752 

12,007 

20,759 


8,416 

10,842 

19,258 


7,633 

8,533 

16,166 

Transfers to disposal groups



Intra-group transfers



(351)

351 

Currency translation and

  other adjustments

(90)

(285)

(375)


33 

145 

178 


116 

175 

291 

Disposals


11 

11 


Amounts written-off

(593)

(497)

(1,090)


(504)

(474)

(978)


(416)

(329)

(745)

Recoveries of amounts

  previously written-off

39 

55 

94 


41 

126 

167 


80 

85 

165 

Charge to income statement













  - continued

817 

635 

1,452 


810 

1,427 

2,237 


779 

1,129 

1,908 

  - discontinued


(11)

(11)


Unwind of discount

(52)

(65)

(117)


(44)

(68)

(112)


(50)

(65)

(115)














At end of period

8,873 

11,850 

20,723 


8,752 

12,007 

20,759 


7,791 

9,879 

17,670 

 


Nine months ended


30 September 2011


30 September 2010


Core 

Non- 

Core 

RFS MI 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

RFS MI 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











At beginning of period

7,866 

10,316 

18,182 


6,921 

8,252 

2,110 

17,283 

Transfers to disposal groups


(67)

(67)

Intra-group transfers

177 

(177)


(351)

351 

Currency translation and

  other adjustments

(1)

(45)

(46)


(163)

294 

131 

Disposals

11 

11 


(17)

(2,149)

(2,166)

Amounts written-off

(1,611)

(1,409)

(3,020)


(1,479)

(3,047)

(4,526)

Recoveries of amounts

  previously written-off

119 

261 

380 


184 

131 

315 

Charge to income statement










  - continued

2,479 

3,108 

5,587 


2,825 

4,164 

6,989 

  - discontinued

(11)

(11)


39 

39 

Unwind of discount

(156)

(204)

(360)


(146)

(182)

(328)











At end of period

8,873 

11,850 

20,723 


7,791 

9,879 

17,670 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Impairment provisions (continued)

 

Movement in loan impairment provisions (continued)

 

Key points

·

Overall the Q3 2011 impairment charge of £1.5 billion was £0.8 billion or 35% lower than the Q2 2011 charge as the latter reflected the impact of the re-assessment of Ulster Bank's Non-Core development land collateral values.



·

The year-to-date charge for 2011 of £5.6 billion was £1.5 billion lower than 2010, with reductions in both Core (£0.3 billion) and Non-Core (£1.1 billion).



·

The Group impairment charge as a percentage of loans and advances was 20 basis points lower at 1.5% in 2011 compared with 2010.



·

The loan impairment provision was broadly unchanged at £20.7 billion.

 

The following table analyses impairment provisions in respect of loans and advances to banks and customers.

 


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


31 December 2010


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 













Latent loss

1,516 

751 

2,267 


1,568 

786 

2,354 


1,653 

997 

2,650 

Collectively assessed

4,675 

1,114 

5,789 


4,510 

1,100 

5,610 


4,139 

1,157 

5,296 

Individually assessed

2,557 

9,984 

12,541 


2,543 

10,120 

12,663 


1,948 

8,161 

10,109 













Customer loans

8,748 

11,849 

20,597 


8,621 

12,006 

20,627 


7,740 

10,315 

18,055 

Bank loans

125 

126 


131 

132 


126 

127 













Total provisions

8,873 

11,850 

20,723 


8,752 

12,007 

20,759 


7,866 

10,316 

18,182 













% of loans (1)

2.1% 

13.2% 

4.1% 


2.1% 

12.6% 

4.0% 


1.9% 

9.1% 

3.4% 

 

Note:

(1)

Customer provisions as a percentage of gross loans and advances to customers including assets of disposal groups and excluding reverse repos.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Impairment charge

The following table analyses the impairment charge for loans and securities.

 


Quarter ended


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


30 September 2010


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


Core 

Non- 

Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 













Latent loss

(33)

(27)

(60)


(16)

(172)

(188)


132 

(92)

40 

Collectively assessed

548 

141 

689 


465 

126 

591 


450 

298 

748 

Individually assessed

302 

521 

823 


361 

1,473 

1,834 


197 

923 

1,120 













Customer loans

817 

635 

1,452 


810 

1,427 

2,237 


779 

1,129 

1,908 

Securities - sovereign debt

  impairment and related

  interest rate hedge

  adjustments

202 

202 


842 

842 


Securities - other

37 

47 

84 


43 

(16)

27 


42 

45 













Charge to income

  statement

1,056 

682 

1,738 


1,695 

1,411 

3,106 


782 

1,171 

1,953 













Charge relating to customer

  loans as a % of gross

  customer loans (1)

0.8% 

2.8% 

1.1% 


0.8% 

6.0% 

1.8% 


0.7% 

3.9% 

1.4% 

 


Nine months ended


30 September 2011


30 September 2010


Core 

Non-Core 

Total 


Core 

Non-Core 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 









Latent loss

(165)

(190)

(355)


63 

(68)

(5)

Collectively assessed

1,597 

403 

2,000 


1,699 

642 

2,341 

Individually assessed

1,047 

2,895 

3,942 


1,063 

3,590 

4,653 









Customer loans

2,479 

3,108 

5,587 


2,825 

4,164 

6,989 

Securities - sovereign debt impairment and

  related interest rate hedge adjustments

1,044 

1,044 


Securities - other

100 

60 

160 


25 

101 

126 









Charge to income statement

3,623 

3,168 

6,791 


2,850 

4,265 

7,115 









Charge relating to customer loans as a %

  of gross customer loans (1)

0.8% 

4.6% 

1.5% 


0.9% 

4.7% 

1.7% 

 

Note:

(1)

Customer loan impairment charge as a percentage of gross loans and advances to customers including assets of disposal groups and excluding reverse repos.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Impairment charge (continued)

 

Key points

·

The £60 million latent loss release in Q3 2011 reflects improving trends in US Retail & Commercial performing book metrics (Core and Non-Core).



·

Collectively assessed impairments increased primarily within US Retail & Commercial's home equity and corporate portfolios as well as in Ulster Bank, the latter driven by deteriorating mortgage credit metrics.



·

The £1.0 billion decrease in individually assessed impairments in Q3 2011 principally reflects higher impairments booked in Q2 2011 relating to Ulster Bank's development land portfolio in Non-Core.



·

Sovereign debt impairments in Q3 2011 reflect further declines in the market value of AFS Greek sovereign bonds.

 

Debt securities

The table below analyses debt securities by issuer and measurement classification. The categorisation of debt securities has been revised to include asset-backed securities (ABS) by class of issuer. The main changes are to US Central and local government which now includes US federal agencies and Financial institutions which now includes US government sponsored agencies and securitisation entities. 2010 data are presented on the revised basis.

 


Central and local government

Banks 

Other 

financial 

institutions 

Corporate 

Total 

Of which 

ABS 

UK 

US 

Other 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 










30 September 2011









Held-for-trading (HFT)

8,434 

20,120 

47,621 

4,216 

27,511 

4,666 

112,568 

24,123 

Designated as at fair value

140 

10 

162 

Available-for-sale

13,328 

20,032 

28,976 

17,268 

28,463 

2,334 

110,401 

41,091 

Loans and receivables

10 

274 

5,764 

478 

6,526 

5,447 











21,773 

40,152 

76,737 

21,762 

61,745 

7,488 

229,657 

70,662 










Of which US agencies

5,311 

27,931 

33,242 

30,272 










Short positions (HFT)

(2,896)

(12,763)

(21,484)

(2,043)

(4,437)

(1,680)

(45,303)

(895)










Available-for-sale









Gross unrealised gains

1,090 

1,240 

1,331 

310 

1,117 

81 

5,169 

1,242 

Gross unrealised losses

(989)

(1,039)

(2,371)

(24)

(4,423)

(3,114)



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Debt securities (continued)

 


Central and local government

Banks 

Other 

financial 

institutions 

Corporate 

Total 

Of which 

ABS 

UK 

US 

Other 

31 December 2010

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 










Held-for-trading

5,097 

15,648 

42,828 

5,486 

23,711 

6,099 

98,869 

21,988 

Designated as at fair value

117 

262 

10 

402 

119 

Available-for-sale

8,377 

22,244 

32,865 

16,982 

29,148 

1,514 

111,130 

42,515 

Loans and receivables

11 

6,686 

381 

7,079 

6,203 











13,486 

38,009 

75,955 

22,473 

59,553 

8,004 

217,480 

70,825 










Of which US agencies

6,811 

21,686 

28,497 

25,375 










Short positions (HFT)

(4,200)

(10,943)

(18,913)

(1,844)

(3,356)

(1,761)

(41,017)

(1,335)










Available-for-sale









Gross unrealised gains

349 

525 

700 

143 

827 

51 

2,595 

1,057 

Gross unrealised losses

(10)

(2)

(618)

(786)

(2,626)

(55)

(4,097)

(3,396)

 

Key points

·

Held-for-trading bonds increased by £13.7 billion of which £12.6 billion relates to government bonds (principally G10).



·

Whilst the Group's AFS portfolio decreased by £0.7 billion, UK government bonds increased by £5.0 billion, principally in the Group's liquidity portfolio.

 

The table below analyses debt securities by issuer and external ratings; ratings are based on the lowest of S&P, Moody's and Fitch.

 


Central and local  government

Banks 

Other 

financial 

institutions 

Corporate 

Total 

% of 

total 

Of which 

ABS 

UK 

US 

Other 

30 September 2011

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











AAA

21,773 

27 

43,712 

9,363 

14,120 

553 

89,548 

39 

18,771 

AA to AA+

40,094 

4,247 

4,279 

31,785 

661 

81,066 

35 

35,954 

A to AA-

25,043 

5,087 

4,783 

1,894 

36,816 

16 

5,670 

BBB- to A-

2,460 

2,032 

3,873 

2,104 

10,469 

4,431 

Non-investment grade

1,242 

709 

5,242 

1,778 

8,971 

4,619 

Unrated

22 

33 

292 

1,942 

498 

2,787 

1,217 












21,773 

40,152 

76,737 

21,762 

61,745 

7,488 

229,657 

100 

70,662 











31 December 2010




















AAA

13,486 

38,009 

44,123 

10,704 

39,388 

878 

146,588 

67 

51,235 

AA to AA+

18,025 

3,511 

6,023 

616 

28,175 

13 

6,335 

A to AA-

9,138 

4,926 

2,656 

1,155 

17,875 

3,244 

BBB- to A-

2,845 

1,324 

3,412 

2,005 

9,586 

3,385 

Non-investment grade

1,770 

1,528 

5,522 

2,425 

11,245 

4,923 

Unrated

54 

480 

2,552 

925 

4,011 

1,703 












13,486 

38,009 

75,955 

22,473 

59,553 

8,004 

217,480 

100 

70,825 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Debt securities (continued)

 

Key points

·

The decrease in AAA rated debt securities relates to the downgrading of US government and agencies to AA+ by S&P in August 2011.



·

The proportion of debt securities rated A to AA- increased to 16%, principally reflecting the Japanese government downgrade in January 2011.



·

Non-investment grade and unrated debt securities now account for 5% of the debt securities portfolio down from 7% at the start of the year.

 

Asset-backed securities

 


RMBS (1)







Government 

sponsored 

or similar (2)

Prime 

Non- 

conforming 

Sub- 

prime 

MBS 

covered 

bond 

 

CMBS (3)

CDOs (4)

CLOs (5)

Other 

ABS (6)

Total 

30 September 2011

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 












AAA

4,391 

4,152 

1,509 

144 

3,462 

893 

194 

2,198 

1,828 

18,771 

AA to AA+

31,037 

117 

111 

97 

1,162 

839 

125 

1,496 

970 

35,954 

A to AA-

137 

603 

124 

175 

1,680 

1,326 

166 

569 

890 

5,670 

BBB- to A-

147 

295 

59 

1,553 

383 

92 

601 

1,301 

4,431 

Non-investment grade

768 

676 

486 

327 

1,516 

170 

676 

4,619 

Unrated

146 

47 

213 

67 

134 

331 

279 

1,217 













35,565 

5,933 

2,762 

1,174 

7,857 

3,835 

2,227 

5,365 

5,944 

70,662 












Of which in Non-Core

269 

463 

276 

1,158 

1,953 

4,698 

1,976 

10,793 












31 December 2010






















AAA

28,835 

4,355 

1,754 

317 

7,107 

2,789 

444 

2,490 

3,144 

51,235 

AA to AA+

1,529 

147 

144 

116 

357 

392 

567 

1,786 

1,297 

6,335 

A to AA-

67 

60 

212 

408 

973 

296 

343 

885 

3,244 

BBB- to A-

82 

316 

39 

500 

203 

527 

1,718 

3,385 

Non-investment grade

900 

809 

458 

296 

1,863 

332 

265 

4,923 

Unrated

196 

52 

76 

85 

596 

698 

1,703 













30,364 

5,747 

3,135 

1,218 

7,872 

4,950 

3,458 

6,074 

8,007 

70,825 

 

Notes:

(1)

Residential mortgage-backed securities.

(2)

Includes US agency and Dutch government guaranteed securities.

(3)

Commercial mortgage-backed securities.

(4)

Collateralised debt obligations.

(5)

Collateralised loan obligations.

(6)

Other ABS includes £1.4 billion (31 December 2010 - £1.9 billion) of covered bonds.

 

For analyses of ABS by geography and measurement classification, refer to Appendix 3.

 

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Available-for-sale debt securities and reserves

The table below analyses available-for-sale (AFS) debt securities by issuer and related AFS reserves, gross and net of tax, for countries exceeding £0.5 billion, together with the total in aggregate of those individually less than £0.5 billion.

 


30 September 2011


31 December 2010


Central 

and local 

government 

Banks 

Other 

financial 

institutions 

Corporate 

Total 

Of which 

ABS 

AFS 

 reserves 

(gross)


Central 

and local 

government 

Banks 

Other 

financial 

institutions 

Corporate 

Total 

Of which 

ABS 

AFS 

 reserves 

(gross)


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

















US

20,032 

394 

16,710 

169 

37,305 

19,907 

523 


22,244 

704 

15,973 

65 

38,986 

20,872 

(304)

UK

13,328 

4,053 

996 

891 

19,268 

3,830 

589 


8,377 

4,297 

1,662 

438 

14,774 

4,002 

158 

Germany

11,084 

1,518 

109 

99 

12,810 

1,083 

416 


10,648 

1,291 

386 

219 

12,544 

1,360 

(39)

Netherlands

2,749 

1,357 

6,163 

201 

10,470 

6,892 

(8)


3,469 

984 

6,238 

264 

10,955 

6,773 

(164)

Spain

81 

5,131 

1,632 

6,852 

6,724 

(1,408)


88 

5,264 

1,657 

7,018 

6,773 

(1,277)

France

4,605 

988 

561 

247 

6,401 

639 

52 


5,912 

774 

630 

71 

7,387 

575 

19 

Japan

3,575 

3,581 


4,354 

80 

4,436 

Australia

1,834 

262 

289 

2,385 

495 

(17)


1,659 

320 

93 

2,072 

486 

(33)

MDBs (1)

1,112 

1,112 

37 


912 

912 

30 

Italy

852 

168 

55 

1,081 

221 

(215)


906 

198 

54 

15 

1,173 

243 

(115)

Singapore

732 

180 

20 

932 


649 

189 

20 

858 

Belgium

771 

39 

813 

34 

(91)


763 

39 

803 

34 

(53)

India

627 

176 

803 

(6)


548 

139 

687 

Hong Kong

641 

641 


905 

913 

Denmark

433 

183 

616 


629 

172 

801 

Austria

296 

61 

105 

140 

602 

156 

(40)


274 

67 

131 

476 

51 

(26)

Sweden

39 

379 

141 

26 

585 

250 


30 

288 

131 

15 

464 

269 

Switzerland

323 

228 

558 


657 

148 

813 

11 

Greece

532 

532 


895 

895 

(694)

Republic of

  Ireland

115 

176 

91 

383 

151 

(83)


104 

435 

62 

88 

689 

177 

(99)

South Korea

138 

86 

224 

86 


261 

429 

690 

429 

(1)

< £0.5bn

1,383 

403 

510 

151 

2,447 

623 

(142)


1,773 

326 

590 

95 

2,784 

471 

(123)


















62,336 

17,268 

28,463 

2,334 

110,401 

41,091 

(390)


63,486 

16,982 

29,148 

1,514 

111,130 

42,515 

(2,705)
















 

Tax on AFS reserves






11 








644 

 
















 

AFS reserves net of tax






(379)








(2,061)

 

 

(1)

Represents multilateral development banks and other supranational organisations.


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Derivatives

The Group's derivative assets by internal grading scale and residual maturity are analysed below. Master netting arrangements in respect of mark-to-market (mtm) positions and collateral shown below do not result in a net presentation in the Group's balance sheet under IFRS.

 



30 September 2011

30 June 

2011 

Total 

31 December 

2010 

Total 

Asset

quality

Probability

of default range

0-3 

months 

3-6 

months 

6-12 

months 

1-5 

years 

Over 5 

years 

Total 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











AQ1

0% - 0.034%

41,121 

13,820 

19,858 

137,585 

304,713 

517,097 

357,031 

408,489 

AQ2

0.034% - 0.048%

591 

116 

347 

2,016 

4,195 

7,265 

5,600 

2,659 

AQ3

0.048% - 0.095%

2,618 

525 

939 

3,609 

6,832 

14,523 

10,908 

3,317 

AQ4

0.095% - 0.381%

1,135 

399 

828 

3,373 

4,670 

10,405 

6,624 

3,391 

AQ5

0.381% - 1.076%

4,469 

173 

341 

2,707 

6,019 

13,709 

6,933 

4,860 

AQ6

1.076% - 2.153%

282 

65 

78 

929 

1,117 

2,471 

3,595 

1,070 

AQ7

2.153% - 6.089%

327 

134 

93 

670 

2,144 

3,368 

2,072 

857 

AQ8

6.089% - 17.222%

11 

30 

160 

970 

1,174 

654 

403 

AQ9

17.222% - 100%

10 

12 

19 

402 

697 

1,140 

486 

450 

AQ10

100%

26 

11 

48 

713 

394 

1,192 

969 

1,581 













50,582 

15,266 

22,581 

152,164 

331,751 

572,344 

394,872 

427,077 

Counterparty mtm netting






(473,256)

(323,455)

(330,397)

Cash collateral held against derivative exposures




(38,202)

(27,500)

(31,096)











Net exposure






60,886 

43,917 

65,584 

 

At 30 September 2011, the Group also held collateral in the form of securities of £5.5 billion (30 June 2011 - £4.2 billion; 31 December 2010 - £2.9 billion) against derivative positions.

 

The table below analyses the fair value of the Group's derivatives by type of contract.

 


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


31 December 2010


Assets 

Liabilities 


Assets 

Liabilities 


Assets 

Liabilities 

Contract type

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 










Interest rate contracts

424,130 

407,814 


283,966 

269,638 


311,731 

299,209 

Exchange rate contracts

107,024 

112,184 


72,682 

78,095 


83,253 

89,375 

Credit derivatives

33,884 

31,574 


32,507 

30,877 


26,872 

25,344 

Equity and commodity contracts

7,306 

10,218 


5,717 

9,199 


5,221 

10,039 











572,344 

561,790 


394,872 

387,809 


427,077 

423,967 

 

Key points

 

30 September 2011 compared with 30 June 2011

·

Net exposure, after taking account of position and collateral netting arrangements, increased significantly (up 39%) due to higher derivative fair values (see below) primarily reflecting economic uncertainty and the eurozone crisis.



·

Continued reductions in interest rates and the depreciation of sterling against the US dollar resulted in an increase in fair values of interest rate contracts. This was partially offset by the effect of the appreciation of sterling against the euro.  All major five and ten year interest rate indices (sterling, euro, and the US dollar), moved down, decreasing by approximately 74 to 84 and 90 to 116 basis points respectively.



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Derivatives (continued)

 

Key points (continued)

 

30 September 2011 compared with 30 June 2011 (continued)

·

Exchange rate contracts increased due to increased volume, trading fluctuations and the depreciation of sterling against the US dollar, as the majority of exchange rate contracts are US dollar denominated.



·

Credit derivative fair values increased due to widening credit spreads.

 

30 September 2011 compared with 31 December 2010

·

Net exposure, after taking account of position and collateral netting arrangements, reduced by 7%, despite an increase in derivative carrying values primarily due to increased use of netting arrangements.



·

Interest rate contracts increased due to continued reductions in interest rate yields.  This was partially offset by the effect of marginal appreciation of sterling against the US dollar and the euro.



·

Exchange rate contracts increased due to trading fluctuations and movements in forward rates and volume.



·

Credit derivative fair values increased due to widening credit spreads.



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Derivatives (continued)

The Group's exposures to monolines and CDPCs by credit rating are summarised below, ratings are based on the lower of S&P and Moody's. All of these exposures are held within Non-Core.

 

Exposures to monoline insurers

 


Notional: 

 protected 

 assets 

Fair value: 

reference 

 protected 

assets 

Gross 

 exposure 

Credit 

valuation 

adjustment 

(CVA)

Hedges 

Net 

 exposure 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 








30 September 2011







A to AA-

5,411 

4,735 

676 

259 

417 

Non-investment grade

7,098 

3,684 

3,414 

2,568 

70 

776 









12,509 

8,419 

4,090 

2,827 

70 

1,193 








Of which:







CMBS

3,954 

1,879 

2,075 

1,599 



CDOs

988 

156 

832 

619 



CLOs

4,806 

4,348 

458 

183 



Other ABS

2,275 

1,758 

517 

309 



Other

486 

278 

208 

117 











12,509 

8,419 

4,090 

2,827 










30 June 2011







A to AA-

5,547 

4,936 

611 

166 

445 

Non-investment grade

7,079 

4,047 

3,032 

2,155 

68 

809 









12,626 

8,983 

3,643 

2,321 

68 

1,254 








Of which:







CMBS

3,853 

2,131 

1,722 

1,285 



CDOs

1,086 

230 

856 

596 



CLOs

4,946 

4,561 

385 

107 



Other ABS

2,241 

1,739 

502 

250 



Other

500 

322 

178 

83 











12,626 

8,983 

3,643 

2,321 










31 December 2010







A to AA-

6,336 

5,503 

833 

272 

561 

Non-investment grade

8,555 

5,365 

3,190 

2,171 

71 

948 









14,891 

10,868 

4,023 

2,443 

71 

1,509 








Of which:







CMBS

4,149 

2,424 

1,725 

1,253 



CDOs

1,133 

256 

877 

593 



CLOs

6,724 

6,121 

603 

210 



Other ABS

2,393 

1,779 

614 

294 



Other

492 

288 

204 

93 











14,891 

10,868 

4,023 

2,443 



 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Derivatives (continued)

 

Exposure to monoline insurers (continued)

 

Key points

 

30 September 2011 compared with 30 June 2011

·

The gross exposure, principally to monolines, increased reflecting the effect of credit spread on  the underlying reference instruments and strengthening of the US dollar against sterling.

 


·

The increased CVA reflected the increase in exposure and the widened credit spreads of monoline insurers.

 

30 September 2011 compared with 31 December 2010

·

The increase in monoline CVA on a year-to-date basis was primarily attributable to wider monoline credit spreads.

 

Exposure to CPDCs


Notional: 

protected 

 assets 

Fair value: 

reference 

protected 

assets 

Gross 

exposure 

Credit 

valuation 

adjustment 

Net 

exposure 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 







30 September 2011






AAA

211 

209 

A to AA-

640 

614 

26 

15 

11 

Non-investment grade

19,294 

17,507 

1,787 

902 

885 

Unrated

3,985 

3,552 

433 

316 

117 








24,130 

21,882 

2,248 

1,233 

1,015 







30 June 2011






AAA

205 

205 

A to AA-

622 

607 

15 

11 

Non-investment grade

19,724 

18,759 

965 

427 

538 

Unrated

3,927 

3,712 

215 

101 

114 








24,478 

23,283 

1,195 

532 

663 







31 December 2010






AAA

213 

212 

A to AA-

644 

629 

15 

11 

Non-investment grade

20,066 

19,050 

1,016 

401 

615 

Unrated

4,165 

3,953 

212 

85 

127 








25,088 

23,844 

1,244 

490 

754 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Derivatives (continued)

 

Exposure to CPDCs (continued)

 

Key points

 

30 September 2011 compared with 30 June 2011

·

The increase in gross exposure to CDPCs was mainly driven by wider credit spreads of the underlying reference loans and bonds coupled with the increase in the relative value of senior tranches.



·

CVA as a percentage of gross exposures increased from 45% to 55% principally reflecting higher CVA on certain CDPCs due to increased risks in the portfolio.

 

30 September 2011 compared with 31 December 2010

·

The year-to-date increase in the gross exposure to CDPCs mainly in Q3 2011, resulted from wider credit spreads of the underlying reference loans and bonds coupled with the increase in the relative value of senior tranches.



·

CVA as a percentage of gross exposures increased from 39% to 55%, as noted above.

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk

 

Background

All country exposures are covered by the Group's country risk framework. This framework includes active management of portfolios either when these have been identified as exhibiting signs of stress, using the Group's country risk watch list process, or when it is otherwise considered appropriate. Granular portfolio reviews are undertaken to align country risk profiles to the Group's country risk appetite in light of evolving economic and political developments. Accordingly, limit controls are tailored to the level of risk associated with each country.

 

Ongoing concern surrounding the most vulnerable eurozone economies has intensified the Group's vigilance and controls. This involves frequent, comprehensive and detailed reviews of exposures to each of these countries, including increased prudence in counterparty monitoring which has led to several divestments and exposure reductions. In addition to Greece, Portugal and Ireland, the Group has recently brought Italy and Spain under tighter controls, and country limits are being set in response to these countries' uncertain outlook.

 

Country events in North Africa and the Middle East, a tsunami plus nuclear disaster in Japan, and developments in the eurozone have placed crisis management on the daily agenda for country risk this year. Following on from sovereign related stress tests and a series of broad thematic reviews, a Group wide response plan has been prepared to position the Group against potential increased stress in the eurozone. The plan covers themes such as sovereign debt restructuring, various eurozone breakup scenarios and a re-examination of prospective financial sector support given ongoing public finance and political pressures.

 

The following tables show the Group's exposure to countries at 30 September 2011, where the on-balance sheet exposure to counterparties incorporated in the country exceeded £1 billion and where the country had an external rating of A+ or below from S&P, Moody's or Fitch, as well as selected other eurozone countries. The numbers are stated before taking into account the impact of mitigating action, such as collateral, insurance or guarantees that may have been taken to reduce or eliminate exposure to country risk events. Shipping related exposures are not included due to their multinational nature.

 

The following apply to the tables on pages 128 to 140:

 

Lending comprises loans and advances, gross of impairment provisions, to: central banks, including cash balances; other banks and financial institutions, incorporating overdraft and other short-term facilities; corporations, in large part loans and leases; and individuals, comprising mortgages, personal loans and credit card balances. Risk elements in lending (REIL) are included within lending and comprise impaired loans and loans where an impairment event has taken place.



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk (continued)

 

Background (continued)

Debt securities comprise securities classified as available-for-sale (AFS), loans and receivables (LAR), held-for-trading (HFT) and designated as at fair value through profit or loss (DFV). All debt securities other than LAR securities are carried at fair value; LAR debt securities are carried at amortised cost less impairment. HFT debt securities are presented net of short positions per country. Impairment losses and exchange differences relating to AFS debt securities, together with interest are recognised in the income statement; other changes in the fair value of AFS securities are reported within AFS reserves.

 

Derivatives comprise the marked-to-market (mtm) value of such contracts after the effect of enforceable netting agreements, but gross of collateral. Repos comprise the marked-to-market value of counterparty exposure arising from repo transactions net of collateral.

 

Off balance sheet amounts comprise the sum of contingent liabilities, including guarantees, and committed undrawn facilities.

 

Credit default swaps (CDS): Under a CDS contract the buyer is protected in the event of the default of the reference entity by the seller. Fair value or mtm value of CDS represents the carrying value on the balance sheet. The mtm value of CDSs is included within derivatives against the counterparty of the credit derivative, as opposed to the reference entity.

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk (continued)

 

Summary


Lending








Central and 

 local 

 government 

Central 

 banks 

Other 

 banks 

 

Other 

financial 

institutions 

Corporate 

Personal 

Total 

lending 

Of which


Debt 

securities 


Derivatives 

(gross of 

collateral)

 and repos 


Contingent 

liabilities and 

commitments 

Core 

Non-Core 

30 September 2011

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 


£m 


£m 

















Eurozone:
















Ireland

54 

2,235 

49 

542 

19,574 

19,606 

42,060 

31,549 

10,511 


900 


2,354 


3,340 

Spain

10 

554 

90 

6,599 

380 

7,636 

3,505 

4,131 


6,497 


2,521 


1,990 

Italy

               - 

76 

420 

472 

2,057 

25 

3,050 

1,437 

1,613 


1,180 


2,331 


3,168 

Greece

10 

32 

381 

14 

 445 

325 

120 


707 


335 


71 

Portugal

43 

                - 

57 

579 

684 

333 

351 


139 


443 


356 

Other
















  - Germany

               - 

15,483 

1,473 

334 

7,099 

166 

24,555 

18,832 

5,723 


17,434 


15,769 


7,752 

  - Netherlands

2,257 

7,393 

642 

1,896 

5,540 

21 

17,749 

15,003 

2,746 


11,729 


11,290 


14,536 

  - France

503 

56 

1,998 

695 

4,354 

79 

7,685 

5,218 

2,467 


11,125 


9,777 


11,303 

  - Luxembourg

               - 

27 

92 

1,087 

2,448 

3,657 

2,060 

1,597 


162 


3,663 


2,172 

  - Belgium

226 

13 

384 

399 

800 

20 

1,842 

1,273 

569 


920 


2,818 


1,435 

Rest of eurozone

120 

61 

115 

1,511 

26 

1,833 

1,494 

339 


1,152 


1,919 


1,362 

















Other selected countries































India

164 

1,382 

94 

3,295 

150 

5,085 

4,670 

415 


1,867 


194 


1,492 

China

23 

170 

2,226 

746 

55 

3,226 

3,033 

193 


444 


762 


1,365 

South Korea

39 

 1,024 

636 

1,703 

1,693 

10 


1,106 


589 


365 

Turkey

231 

27 

294 

55 

1,187 

15 

1,809 

1,330 

479 


386 


83 


498 

Russia

20 

986 

44 

852 

69 

1,971 

1,851 

120 


107 


93 


620 

Brazil

1,035 

273 

1,312 

1,201 

111 


659 


25 


172 

Romania

30 

174 

22 

15 

473 

410 

1,124 

13 

1,111 


302 


10 


161 

Mexico

207 

993 

1,201 

819 

382 


27 


127 


359 

Indonesia

77 

31 

288 

23 

311 

110 

840 

720 

120 


139 


365 


133 

Poland

37 

10 

635 

687 

639 

48 


294 


60 


709 

 

For definitions refer to pages 126 and 127.



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk (continued)

 

Summary(continued)


Lending








Central and 

 local 

 government 

Central 

 banks 

Other 

 banks 

 

Other 

financial 

institutions 

Corporate 

Personal 

Total 

lending 

Of which


Debt 

securities 


Derivatives 

(gross of 

collateral)

 and repos 


Contingent 

liabilities and 

commitments 

Core 

Non-Core 

31 December 2010

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 


£m 


£m 

















Eurozone:
















Ireland

61 

2,119 

87 

813 

19,881 

20,228 

43,189 

32,432 

10,757 


1,323 


2,940 


4,311 

Spain

19 

166 

92 

6,962 

407 

7,651 

3,130 

4,521 


7,107 


2,047 


2,883 

Italy

45 

78 

668 

418 

2,483 

27 

3,719 

1,818 

1,901 


3,836 


2,030 


3,853 

Greece

14 

36 

18 

31 

188 

16 

303 

173 

130 


974 


203 


162 

Portugal

86 

63 

611 

766 

450 

316 


242 


393 


734 

Other
















  - Germany

10,894 

1,060 

422 

7,423 

162 

19,961 

13,586 

6,375 


14,747 


15,263 


8,904 

  - Netherlands

914 

6,484 

554 

1,801 

6,161 

81 

15,995 

12,792 

3,203 


12,523 


9,035 


17,914 

  - France

511 

1,095 

470 

4,376 

102 

6,557 

3,769 

2,788 


14,041 


8,606 


11,640 

  - Luxembourg

25 

26 

734 

2,503 

3,291 

1,773 

1,518 


378 


2,545 


2,383 

  - Belgium

102 

14 

441 

32 

893 

327 

1,809 

1,307 

502 


803 


2,207 


1,492 

Rest of eurozone

124 

142 

119 

1,503 

24 

1,913 

1,581 

332 


535 


1,351 


2,018 

















Other selected countries































India

1,307 

307 

2,590 

273 

4,477 

3,824 

653 


1,686 


177 


1,239 

China

17 

298 

1,223 

16 

753 

64 

2,371 

2,135 

236 


573 


251 


1,589 

South Korea

276 

1,033 

555 

1,871 

1,821 

50 


1,353 


457 


688 

Turkey

282 

68 

448 

37 

1,365 

12 

2,212 

1,520 

692 


550 


103 


686 

Russia

110 

244 

1,181 

58 

1,600 

1,475 

125 


124 


51 


596 

Brazil

825 

315 

1,145 

1,025 

120 


687 


15 


190 

Romania

36 

178 

21 

21 

426 

446 

1,128 

1,121 


310 



319 

Mexico

149 

999 

1,157 

854 

303 


144 


122 


840 

Indonesia

84 

42 

242 

19 

294 

131 

812 

658 

154 


356 


249 


249 

Poland

168 

655 

843 

735 

108 


271 


69 


1,020 

 

For definitions refer to pages 126 and 127.


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk (continued)

 

External risk environment

So far 2011 has seen heightened country risks, which have intensified in the past quarter. However, trends have been divergent. Conditions have deteriorated among vulnerable eurozone countries facing growth impediments and higher public debt burdens, with market risks rising sharply in the past quarter. Many emerging markets have continued to enjoy relative stability, seeing net inflows of capital and lower spreads despite the impact of higher risk aversion in Q3 2011. In the US, notwithstanding a sovereign downgrade from a rating agency, a deal was secured to increase the sovereign debt ceiling, and yields on government debt remain low.

 

Europe has been at the centre of rising global risks, owing to a combination of slower growth among some of its major economies and a further deepening of the ongoing sovereign crisis which has in turn, increasingly harmed financial sector health. Risks in Greece have risen as a deeper than expected contraction in GDP has adversely affected the fiscal adjustment programme and hit debt sustainability. Some private sector creditors have proposed a burden sharing agreement to reduce debt repayments somewhat, but market prices of sovereign debt have implied investor expectations of a broader debt restructuring and concerns over contagion have risen sharply.

 

Despite the announcement of significant new support proposals by eurozone leaders in July, investor worries over risks to their implementation rose and market conditions worsened markedly through Q3 2011 as a result. Risk aversion towards Spanish and Italian assets picked up and despite a policy response by both countries, yields remained elevated, prompting the European Central Bank (ECB) to intervene to support their bonds in secondary markets for the first time. Contagion affected bank stocks and asset prices. At the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings in September, eurozone leaders agreed to enhance anti-crisis measures. Some steps, including boosting the resources of the European Financial Stability Facility and a proposed 50% voluntary haircut by private sector investors holding Greek debt, were taken at two key summits in October, but implementation risks remain high. Within a week of the summit, Greece proposed a referendum on its commitments under the deal, resulting in renewed concerns over the possibility of a more comprehensive restructuring.

 

Meanwhile, Portugal's new government has continued to remain on track with implementation of the European Union - International Monetary Fund (EU-IMF) deal agreed in May after a sharp deterioration in sovereign liquidity. Ireland's performance under its EU-IMF programme has been good and the announcement of a bank restructuring deal without defaults on senior debt obligations has helped improve market confidence. This was reflected in a compression in bond spreads in Q3 2011.

 

Emerging markets have meanwhile continued to perform relatively well. In Asia, despite growth slowing, China and India have continued to post strong overall expansion, while generally large external savings levels have reinforced balance of payments stability. In China specifically, measures to curb house price growth have proven effective, though concerns over bank asset quality linked to rapid lending growth in 2009 have risen.

 

In Emerging Europe, Russia has seen some contagion into asset markets from weaker commodity prospects and a challenging investment climate, but the sovereign balance sheet remains quite robust. Foreign exchange exposures remain a risk factor in a number of Eastern European economies. Elsewhere, Turkey's economy cooled in Q3 2011, helping to narrow the current account deficit sharply, though external vulnerabilities remain.

 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk (continued)

 

External risk environment (continued)

The Middle East and North Africa has been characterised by political instability in a number of the relatively lower income countries. Excluding Bahrain, pressures for change have been more contained in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

 

Latin America continues to be characterised by relative stability owing to balance sheet repair by a number of countries following crises in previous decades. Capital inflows have contributed to currency appreciation, but overheating pressures have so far proven contained, including in Brazil where credit growth has slowed from high levels.

 

Overall, the outlook for the rest of the year remains challenging, with risks likely to remain elevated but divergent. Much will depend on the success of EU efforts to contain contagion from the sovereign crisis and whether growth headwinds in larger advanced economies persist. Emerging market balance sheet risks remain lower, despite ongoing structural and political constraints, but these economies will continue to be affected by events elsewhere through financial markets and trade channels.

 

Key points

·

Currency movements had a significant impact on exposures in the third quarter as sterling fell by 2.8% against the US dollar and rose by 5.0% against the euro. However, they had less impact on exposures year-to-date as sterling rose by only 0.6% against the US dollar and 0.2% against the euro over the first three quarters of 2011.

·

Total exposure to over half of the countries shown in the table decreased over the nine months since 31 December 2010, driven partly by clients' debt reduction efforts and partly by a restrictive stance on the part of the Group. Reductions were seen particularly in off-balance sheet exposures and in lending. Exposures generally increased in (collateralised) derivatives and repos.

·

India - Continued strong economic growth led total exposure to grow by £1.1 billion so far this year, largely due to increases in lending to corporate clients (£0.7 billion) and in debt securities (£0.2 billion).

·

China - Lending to Chinese banks increased by £1.0 billion to £2.4 billion in 2011. This reflects increased activity with the top tier banks, partially driven by on-shore regulatory needs, and an increase in trade finance activity. These credit facilities support trade within the Asia-Pacific region as well as a number of key UK clients with trade finance requirements in China.

·

South Korea - Total exposure deceased by £0.6 billion, largely due to reductions in debt securities reflecting a hedge against a derivatives position which decreased over the course of the year and a reduction in off-balance exposures reflecting the expiration of a large medium-term guarantee and the Group's cautious stance given the current global economic downturn.

·

Eurozone - Portfolio composition and trends in a number of vulnerable eurozone countries are discussed in more detail below. Here, most peripheral eurozone exposure decreased, with derivatives and repos being the only component that still saw some gross increases in the third quarter. The CDS positions referencing sovereign debt are generally collateralised and are with large international banks or large international asset management companies outside the country of the referenced sovereign.

·

In the rest of the eurozone, exposure in the first nine months of 2011 increased mainly in lending to central banks (in Germany and the Netherlands, largely deposits of excess liquidity), to governments (the Netherlands) and to banks, particularly in the first half of the year (France and the Netherlands), as well as in derivatives and repos (the Netherlands, France and Luxembourg).

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Ireland

 


Lending 

REIL 

Impairment 

 provisions 


AFS and 

LAR debt 

 securities 

AFS 

 reserves 


HFT debt securities


Total debt 

 securities 


Derivatives 

(gross of 

collateral)

 and repos 


Contingent 

 liabilities and 

 commitments 

Long 

Short 

Issuer

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 


£m 


£m 

















30 September 2011
















Central and local government

54 


115 

(40)


30 

30 


115 


20 


Central banks

2,235 


                 -   


               - 

              -   


              - 



Other banks

49 


176 

(44)


67 

              - 


243 


901 


52 

Other financial institutions

542 


57 


250 

52 


255 


1,024 


691 

Corporate

19,574 

10,195 

5,667 


148 


139 


287 


407 


2,061 

Personal

19,606 

2,210 

954 


                -   


               - 

              - 


              -   



535 


















42,060 

12,405 

6,621 


496 

(83)


486 

82 


900 


2,354 


3,340 

















31 December 2010
































Central and local government

61 


104 

(45)


93 

88 


109 


20 


Central banks

2,119 





126 


Other banks

87 


435 

(51)


96 

45 


486 


1,523 


83 

Other financial institutions

813 


291 

(1)


205 


496 


837 


1,050 

Corporate

19,881 

8,291 

4,072 


91 

(2)


140 


225 


434 


2,633 

Personal

20,228 

1,638 

534 






544 


















43,189 

9,929 

4,606 


921 

(99)


541 

139 


1,323 


2,940 


4,311 

 

Fair values of CDS referencing sovereign exposures were:


30 September 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Fair value

£m 

£m 




Bought protection

511 

360 

Sold protection

523 

387 

 

For definitions refer to pages 126 and 127.

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Ireland (continued)

 

Key points

The Group has significant exposure to Ireland, largely through Ulster Bank. The portfolio is predominantly personal lending of £19.6 billion (largely mortgages) and corporate lending of £19.6 billion. In addition, the Group has lending and derivatives exposure to the Central Bank of Ireland, financial institutions and large international clients with funding units based in Ireland.



Total Group exposure (including off-balance sheet) declined by £3.1 billion to less than £50 billion from December 2010 to September 2011. Ulster Bank currently represents 87% of the Group's total Irish exposure.

 

Central and local government and central bank

Exposure to the government is modest at £0.2 billion.



Exposure to the central bank fluctuates, driven by reserve requirements and by placings of excess liquidity as part of the Group's assets and liabilities management. At 30 September 2011, exposure was £2.2 billion.

 

Financial institutions

Interbank lending, which is provided to the largest, systemically important Irish banks, is approximately £50 million.



Derivatives and repos exposure in GBM to banks and other financial institutions increased by £0.8 billion over the year to date. Transactions are typically collateralised.

 

Corporations

Corporate lending exposure decreased by approximately £0.3 billion in the nine months ended 30 September 2011. Exposure in this area is highest in the property sector £12.5 billion, which also experienced the biggest reduction, £160 million, in the same period. Risk elements in lending of £10.2 billion and impairment provisions of £5.7 billion, up since December 2010 by £1.9 billion and £1.6 billion respectively, are further discussed in the Ulster Bank section.

 

Personal

The Ulster Bank retail portfolio mainly consists of mortgages (approximately 92%), with the remainder comprising other personal lending and credit card exposure (see also page 142).

 

Non-Core

Of the total Irish exposure, £11.5 billion is designated Non-Core, £10.0 billion of which is related to commercial real estate.

 

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Spain

 


Lending 

REIL 

Impairment 

 provisions 


AFS and 

LAR debt 

 securities 

AFS 

 reserves 


HFT debt securities


Total debt 

 securities 


Derivatives 

(gross of 

collateral)

 and repos 


Contingent 

 liabilities and 

 commitments 

Long 

Short 

Issuer

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 


£m 


£m 

















30 September 2011
















Central and local government

10 


81 

(9)


864 

1,271 


(326)


40 


30 

Central banks






Other banks

554 


5,131 

(820)


137 

178 


5,090 


1,904 


40 

Other financial institutions

90 


1,694 

(579)


71 

55 


1,710 


32 


228 

Corporate

6,599 

1,438 

690 



18 


23 


545 


1,635 

Personal

380 






57 


















7,636 

1,439 

690 


6,914 

(1,408)


1,090 

1,507 


6,497 


2,521 


1,990 

















31 December 2010
































Central and local government

19 


88 

(7)


1,172 

1,248 


12 


53 


Central banks






Other banks

166 


5,264 

(834)


147 

118 


5,293 


1,482 


41 

Other financial institutions

92 


1,724 

(474)


34 


1,751 


22 


285 

Corporate

6,962 

1,871 

572 


38 


50 


51 


490 


2,494 

Personal

407 






62 


















7,651 

1,872 

572 


7,085 

(1,277)


1,403 

1,381 


7,107 


2,047 


2,883 

 

Fair values of CDS referencing sovereign exposures were:


30 September 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Fair value

£m 

£m 




Bought protection

562 

436 

Sold protection

547 

435 

 

For definitions refer to pages 126 and 127.

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Spain (continued)

 

Key points

The Group's exposure to Spain consists primarily of lending to major investment grade corporations and a large covered bond portfolio.

 

 

Total (on and off-balance sheet) exposure decreased by £1.0 billion in the nine months ended 30 September 2011 to £18.6 billion, the majority of which consists of exposure to the property, natural resource and banking sectors.

 

Central and local government and central bank

The Group's exposure to the government is negative owing to a net short position in held-for-trading debt securities.

 

Financial institutions

A sizeable covered bond portfolio of £6.8 billion is the Group's largest exposure to Spanish banks and other financial institutions. Stress analysis on the AFS debt securities indicates that this exposure is unlikely to suffer material credit losses.



A further £1.9 billion of the Group's exposure to financial institutions consists of fully collateralised derivatives exposure to the top banks and a few of the largest regional banks. Lending to banks of almost £0.6 billion consists mainly of short-term money market lines with the top two international Spanish banks.

 

Corporations

Total exposure to corporate clients declined by £1.2 billion in the nine months ended 30 September 2011, driven by reductions in exposure to corporations in the property and telecom, media and technology sectors. REIL relates to commercial real estate lending and decreased reflecting disposals and restructurings; however provision increased due to declining collateral values.

 

Non-Core

Of the total Spanish exposure, £4.9 billion is in Non-Core, the majority of which is related to either real estate or project finance. Current Spanish property market conditions present significant disposal challenges. Despite this, Non-Core continues to seek divestment opportunities across the portfolio.

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Italy

 


Lending 

REIL 

Impairment 

 provisions 


AFS and 

LAR debt 

 securities 

AFS 

 reserves 


HFT debt securities


Total debt 

 securities 


Derivatives 

(gross of 

collateral)

 and repos 


Contingent 

 liabilities and 

 commitments 

Long 

Short 

Issuer

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 


£m 


£m 

















30 September 2011
















Central and local government


852 

(191)


5,076 

5,634 


294 


103 


Central banks

76 






Other banks

420 


168 

(16)


88 


251 


1,143 


26 

Other financial institutions

472 


538 

(8)


49 

81 


506 


672 


957 

Corporate

2,057 

451 

139 


68 


61 


129 


413 


2,172 

Personal

25 






13 


















3,050 

451 

139 


1,626 

(215)


5,274 

5,720 


1,180 


2,331 


3,168 

















31 December 2010
































Central and local government

45 


906 

(99)


5,113 

3,175 


2,844 


71 


Central banks

78 






Other banks

668 


198 

(11)


67 

16 


249 


782 


161 

Other financial institutions

418 


646 

(5)


49 


695 


759 


1,217 

Corporate

2,483 

314 

141 


20 


36 


48 


418 


2,456 

Personal

27 






13 


















3,719 

314 

141 


1,770 

(115)


5,265 

3,199 


3,836 


2,030 


3,853 

 

Fair values of CDS referencing sovereign exposures were:


30 September 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Fair value

£m 

£m 




Bought protection

1,815 

641 

Sold protection

1,691 

551 

 

For definitions refer to pages 126 and 127.


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Italy (continued)

 

Key points

The Group is an active market maker in Italian government bonds, resulting in substantial long positions in held-for-trading securities against approximately equal short positions.



The Group maintains relationships with government entities, banks, other financial institutions and large corporate clients, in the case of the latter predominantly with subsidiaries of multinationals. Since the start of 2011 the Group has taken steps to reduce and mitigate its risks through increased collateral requirements, additional security and strategic exits where appropriate, in line with its evolving appetite for Italian risk. Total exposure to entities incorporated in Italy declined by £3.7 billion in the nine months ended 30 September 2011, to £9.7 billion, much of which was lending to corporate clients, banks and other financial institutions.

 

Central and local government and central bank

Total exposure to the government including net debt securities positions was significantly reduced by £2.6 billion to £0.4 billion.

 

Financial institutions

The majority of the Group's exposure to Italian financial institutions is concentrated on the two largest, systemically important groups and consists of collateralised derivatives and, to a lesser extent, short-term interbank lending.

 

Corporations

Since 31 December 2010, total exposure has declined by approximately £0.6 billion, driven in part by reductions in lending to the property industry. However, the Group has maintained lending facilities to the manufacturing and natural resource sectors.

 

Non-Core

Of the total Italian exposure, £1.8 billion is in Non-Core, the majority of which is related to real estate or project finance. The key risk in the portfolio is the availability of refinancing options for current clients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Greece

 


Lending 

REIL 

Impairment 

 provisions 


AFS and 

LAR debt 

 securities 

AFS 

 reserves 


HFT debt securities


Total debt 

 securities 


Derivatives 

(gross of 

collateral)

 and repos 


Contingent 

 liabilities and 

 commitments 

Long 

Short 

Issuer

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 


£m 


£m 

















30 September 2011
















Central and local government


532 


180 


705 



Central banks

10 






Other banks





299 


Other financial institutions

32 






Corporate

381 

335 

249 





34 


60 

Personal

14 






10 


















445 

335 

249 


532 


182 


707 


335 


71 

















31 December 2010
































Central and local government

14 


895 

(694)


118 

39 


974 



Central banks

36 






Other banks

18 





167 


Other financial institutions

31 






Corporate

188 

48 





26 


141 

Personal

16 






10 


















303 

48 

48 


895 

(694)


118 

39 


974 


203 


162 

 

Fair values of CDS referencing sovereign exposures were:


30 September 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Fair value

£m 

£m 




Bought protection

1,832 

854 

Sold protection

1,720 

871 

 

For definitions refer to pages 126 and 127.

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Greece (continued)

 

Key points

Given the continued economic distress in Greece, the Group is actively managing its exposure to this country.



Much of the exposure is collateralised or guaranteed. As a result, the Group has reduced its effective exposure to Greece in line with the de-risking strategy that has been in place since early 2010.

 

Central and local government and central bank

As a result of the continued deterioration in Greece's fiscal position, coupled with the potential for the restructuring of Greek sovereign debt, the Group recognised an impairment charge in respect of available-for-sale Greek government bonds in H1 2011. These bonds continue to represent a significant proportion of the total Greek portfolio.

 

Financial institutions

Exposure to Greek banks remains under close scrutiny and is actively managed. Lending exposures to banks are very small.



The gross derivatives exposure to banks increased by slightly over £0.1 billion in the third quarter but is largely collateralised; the remainder consists for the most part of transactions conducted with Greek subsidiaries of non-Greek banks.

 

Corporations

At the start of the year, a number of defaulted clients re-incorporated in Greece causing a £0.2 billion increase in lending as well as increases in the risk elements in lending and in impairment provisions.



The ongoing deterioration in Greek sovereign credit quality led to some further increase in provisions and to a rigorous review of Greek corporate exposure.



Accordingly, and allowing for the effect described above, the Group's total corporate exposure is declining. The focus is now on short-term trade facilities to the domestic subsidiaries of international clients, increasingly supported by parental guarantees.

 

Non-Core

Of the total Greek exposure, £0.2 billion is in Non-Core.

 

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Portugal

 


Lending 

REIL 

Impairment 

 provisions 


AFS and 

LAR debt 

 securities 

AFS 

 reserves 


HFT debt securities


Total debt 

 securities 


Derivatives 

(gross of 

collateral)

 and repos 


Contingent 

 liabilities and 

 commitments 

Long 

Short 

Issuer

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 


£m 


£m 

















30 September 2011
















Central and local government

43 


66 

(53)


70 

152 


(16)


19 


Central banks






Other banks

57 


91 

(37)


14 

11 


94 


338 


Other financial institutions



13 


18 


12 


Corporate

579 

27 

27 


43 



43 


74 


348 

Personal























684 

27 

27 


205 

(90)


97 

163 


139 


443 


356 

















31 December 2010
































Central and local government

86 


92 

(26)


68 

122 


38 


29 


211 

Central banks






Other banks

63 


106 

(24)


46 


150 


307 


Other financial institutions


47 



54 



Corporate

611 

27 

21 





50 


512 

Personal























766 

27 

21 


245 

(49)


121 

124 


242 


393 


734 

 

Fair values of CDS referencing sovereign exposures were:


30 September 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

Fair value

£m 

£m 




Bought protection

1,053 

471 

Sold protection

1,041 

460 

 

For definitions refer to pages 126 and 127.

 


 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Country risk: Portugal (continued)

 

Key points

Following the closure of its local branch in early 2011, the Group has modest exposure overall. The portfolio is focused on corporate lending and derivatives trading with the largest local banks.

 

Central and local government and central bank

In the first nine months of 2011, the sovereign risk position was reduced, largely the result of decreases in contingent exposures to three public sector entities in addition to bond sales and maturities. Overall, the exposure shrank to less than £50 million in the nine months.

 

Financial institutions

As the Portuguese economy deteriorated, the Group reduced its exposure in all areas.



Approximately 90% of remaining counterparty exposures are focused on the top four systemically important financial groups. Exposures generally consist of collateralised trading products and short-term treasury lines.

 

Corporations

The Group's exposure is concentrated on large highly creditworthy clients. The largest exposure is to corporations active in the energy and transport sectors.



Trade finance exposure was nearly halved in the third quarter to £50 million.

 

Non-Core

Of the total Portuguese exposure, £0.6 billion is in Non-Core, 87% of which is related to project finance.

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Ulster Bank Group (Core and Non-Core)

 

Overview

Ulster Bank Group accounts for 9.8% of the Group's total gross customer loans (30 June 2011 - 10.2%; 31 December 2010 - 9.9%) and 8.5% of the Group's Core gross customer loans (30 June 2011 - 8.8%; 31 December 2010 - 8.9%). The Q3 2011 impairment charge was £608 million (Q3 2010 - £962 million) with commercial real estate and mortgage sectors accounting for £314 million (52%) and £126 million (21%) of the total Q3 2011 impairment charge respectively. The impairment charge in Q3 2011 was driven by a combination of new defaulting customers and deteriorating security values.  Provisions as a percentage of REIL has increased from 51.4% at 30 June 2011 to 51.6% at 30 September 2011 (30 September 2010 - 39%).

 

The impairment charge of £608 million for Q3 2011 was £638 million lower than the £1,246 million impairment charge for Q2 2011. Non-Core was the main driver for this reduction with its impairment charge £696 million lower in Q3 2011 compared with Q2 2011 due to a slower rate of deterioration in security values and a decrease in the value of loans defaulting in the quarter. The Core portfolio quarterly impairment charge increased by £58 million to £327 million (Q2 2011- £269 million), with the mortgage portfolio accounting for £48 million of the increase. Impairments remain elevated as high unemployment coupled with higher taxation and less liquidity in the economy continues to depress the property market and domestic spending.

 

Core

The Q3 2011 impairment charge was £327 million (Q3 2010 - £286 million) with the mortgage sector accounting for £126 million (39%) of the total Q3 2011 impairment charge. These impairment losses reflect the difficult economic climate in Ireland with elevated default levels across both mortgage and other corporate portfolios.

 

Ulster Bank Group is assisting customers in this difficult environment. Mortgage forbearance policies which are deployed through the 'Flex' initiative are aimed at assisting customers in financial difficulty.

 

Non-Core

The Q3 2011 impairment charge was £281 million (Q3 2010 - £676 million) with the commercial real estate sector accounting for £236 million (84%) of the total Q3 2011 charge. The impairment charge decreased from £977 million in Q2 2011 to £281 million in Q3 2011, primarily reflecting a slower rate of deterioration in security values and a reduction in the value of loans defaulting.

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Ulster Bank Group (Core and Non-Core) (continued)

 

Loans, REIL and impairments by sector

 


Gross 

 loans (1)

REIL 

Provisions 

REIL 

as a % of 

gross 

 loans 

Provisions 

 as a % of 

 REIL 

Provisions 

 as a % of 

 gross loans 

 

Q3 

Impairment 

charge 

Q3 

Amounts 

 written-off 

30 September 2011

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 










Core









Mortgages

20,692 

2,138 

852 

10.3 

40 

4.1 

126 

Personal unsecured

1,557 

201 

182 

12.9 

91 

11.7 

12 

Commercial real estate









  - investment

4,241 

1,163 

373 

27.4 

32 

8.8 

58 

  - development

923 

261 

135 

28.3 

52 

14.6 

20 

Other corporate

8,133 

1,793 

1,025 

22.0 

57 

12.6 

111 

37 











35,546 

5,556 

2,567 

15.6 

46 

7.2 

327 

              41 










Non-Core









Commercial real estate









  - investment

3,937 

2,684 

1,247 

68.2 

47 

31.7 

74 

  - development

8,703 

7,687 

4,342 

88.3 

57 

49.9 

162 

Other corporate

1,670 

1,176 

674 

70.4 

57 

40.4 

45 











14,310 

11,547 

6,263 

80.7 

54 

43.8 

281 

11 










Ulster Bank Group









Mortgages

20,692 

2,138 

852 

10.3 

40 

4.1 

126 

Personal unsecured

1,557 

201 

182 

12.9 

91 

11.7 

12 

Commercial real estate









  - investment

8,178 

3,847 

1,620 

47.0 

42 

19.8 

132 

  - development

9,626 

7,948 

4,477 

82.6 

56 

46.5 

182 

Other corporate

9,803 

2,969 

1,699 

30.3 

57 

17.3 

156 

46 











49,856 

17,103 

8,830 

34.3 

52 

17.7 

608 

52 

 

Note:

(1)

Funded customer loans.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Ulster Bank Group (Core and Non-Core) (continued)

 

Loans, REIL and impairments by sector (continued)

 


Gross 

 loans 

REIL 

Provisions 

REIL 

as a % of 

gross 

 loans 

Provisions 

 as a % of 

 REIL 

Provisions 

 as a % of 

 gross loans 

 

H1 

Impairment 

charge 

H1 

Amounts 

 written-off 

30 June 2011

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 










Core









Mortgages

21,778 

2,014 

769 

9.2 

38 

3.5 

311 

Personal unsecured

1,605 

201 

181 

12.5 

90 

11.3 

33 

15 

Commercial real estate









  - investment

4,338 

838 

331 

19.3 

40 

7.6 

115 

  - development

955 

241 

120 

25.2 

50 

12.6 

48 

Other corporate

8,699 

1,822 

1,000 

20.9 

55 

11.5 

223 











37,375 

5,116 

2,401 

13.7 

47 

6.4 

730 

21 










Non-Core









Commercial real estate









  - investment

4,076 

2,662 

1,231 

65.3 

46 

30.2 

384 

  - development

9,002 

7,847 

4,367 

87.2 

56 

48.5 

1,313 

Other corporate

1,811 

1,226 

661 

67.7 

54 

36.5 

113 











14,889 

11,735 

6,259 

78.8 

53 

42.0 

1,810 










Ulster Bank Group









Mortgages

21,778 

2,014 

769 

9.2 

38 

3.5 

311 

Personal unsecured

1,605 

201 

181 

12.5 

90 

11.3 

33 

15 

Commercial real estate









  - investment

8,414 

3,500 

1,562 

41.6 

45 

18.6 

499 

  - development

9,957 

8,088 

4,487 

81.2 

56 

45.1 

1,361 

Other corporate

10,510 

3,048 

1,661 

29.0 

55 

15.8 

336 











52,264 

16,851 

8,660 

32.2 

51 

16.6 

2,540 

23 

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Ulster Bank Group (Core and Non-Core) (continued)

 

Loans, REIL and impairments by sector (continued)

 


Gross 

 loans 

REIL 

Provisions 

REIL 

as a % of 

gross 

 loans 

Provisions 

 as a % of 

 REIL 

Provisions 

 as a % of 

 gross loans 

Q4 

Impairment 

charge 

Q4 

Amounts 

 written-off 

31 December 2010

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 










Core









Mortgages

21,162 

1,566 

439 

7.4 

28 

2.1 

159 

Personal unsecured

1,282 

185 

158 

14.4 

85 

12.3 

13 

Commercial real estate









  - investment

4,284 

598 

332 

14.0 

56 

7.7 

79 

  - development

1,090 

65 

37 

6.0 

57 

3.4 

(10)

Other corporate

9,039 

1,205 

667 

13.3 

55 

7.4 

135 











36,857 

3,619 

 1,633 

9.8 

45 

4.4 

376 

10 










Non-Core









Commercial real estate









  - investment

3,854 

2,391 

1,000 

62.0 

42 

25.9 

206 

  - development

8,760 

6,341 

2,783 

72.4 

44 

31.8 

596 

Other corporate

1,970 

 1,310 

561 

66.5 

43 

28.5 

(19)











14,584 

 10,042 

 4,344 

68.9 

43 

29.8 

783 










Ulster Bank Group









Mortgages

21,162 

1,566 

439 

7.4 

28 

2.1 

159 

Personal unsecured

1,282 

185 

158 

14.4 

85 

12.3 

13 

Commercial real estate









  - investment

8,138 

2,989 

1,332 

36.7 

45 

16.4 

285 

  - development

9,850 

6,406 

2,820 

65.0 

44 

28.6 

586 

Other corporate

11,009 

2,515 

1,228 

22.8 

49 

11.2 

116 











51,441 

13,661 

5,977 

26.6 

44 

11.6 

1,159 

10 

 

Key points

·

The REIL increase of £252 million in Q3 2011 reflects continuing difficult conditions in both the commercial and residential sectors in the Republic of Ireland partially offset by currency movements. Of the REIL at 30 September 2011, 68% was in Non-Core (30 June 2011 - 70%).



·

The majority of Non-Core commercial real estate development portfolio (88%) is REIL with a 57% provision coverage.



·

REIL mortgages represented 10.3% of gross lending at 30 September 2011 compared with 9.2% at 30 June 2011 and 7.4% at 31 December 2010.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Ulster Bank Group (Core and Non-Core) (continued)

 

Residential mortgages

The table below shows how the continued decrease in property values has affected the distribution of residential mortgages by loan-to-value (LTV) (indexed). LTV is based upon gross loan amounts and, whilst including defaulted loans, does not take account of provisions made.

 

 


30 September 

2011 

30 June 

 2011 

31 December 

2010 

By average LTV (1)





<= 50%

33.7 

35.1 

35.9 

> 50% and <= 70%

12.5 

13.0 

13.5 

> 70% and <= 90%

12.4 

13.0 

13.5 

> 90%

41.4 

38.9 

37.1 





Total portfolio average LTV

77.6 

74.5 

71.2 





Average LTV on new originations during the period

66.7 

65.0 

75.9 

 

Note:

(1)

LTV averages calculated by transaction volume.

 

Key points

·

The residential mortgage portfolio across Ulster Bank Group totalled £20.7 billion at 30 September 2011 with 89% in the Republic of Ireland and 11% in Northern Ireland. At constant exchange rates, the portfolio remained at similar levels to 31 December 2010 (c.£21.2 billon) with little growth due to low new business volumes.



·

Repossession levels remain low at 134 cases in the nine months ended 30 September 2011, of which 111 were in the Republic of Ireland, primarily due to voluntary surrender or abandonment of the property.

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Risk management: Credit risk: Ulster Bank Group (Core and Non-Core) (continued)

 

Commercial real estate

The commercial real estate lending portfolio in Ulster Bank Group reduced during the quarter to £17.8 billion, primarily due to exchange rate movements. The Non-Core portion of the portfolio totalled £12.6 billion (71% of the portfolio). Of the total Ulster Bank Group commercial real estate portfolio, the geographic split remains similar to last quarter with, 62% relating to the Republic of Ireland, 26% to Northern Ireland and 12% to the rest of the UK.

 


Development


Investment




Commercial  

Residential 


Commercial 

Residential 


Total 

Exposure by geography

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 


£m 









30 September 2011








Ireland (ROI & NI)

2,674 

6,479 


5,225 

1,174 


15,552 

UK (excluding Northern Ireland)

97 

357 


1,659 

108 


2,221 

RoW

19 



31 










2,771 

6,855 


6,892 

1,286 


17,804 









30 June 2011








Ireland (ROI & NI)

2,762 

6,701 


5,378 

1,210 


16,051 

UK (excluding Northern Ireland)

104 

358 


1,702 

112 


2,276 

RoW

28 



44 










2,870 

7,087 


7,088 

1,326 


18,371 









31 December 2010








Ireland (ROI & NI)

2,785 

6,578 


5,072 

1,098 


15,533 

UK (excluding Northern Ireland)

110 

359 


1,831 

115 


2,415 

RoW

18 


22 


40 










2,895 

6,955 


6,925 

1,213 


17,988 

 

Note:

(1)

The above table does not include rate risk management or contingent obligations.

 

Key point

·

Commercial real estate remains the primary driver of the increase in the defaulted loan book for Ulster Bank. The outlook for the sector remains uncertain with the possibility of further declines in values. Proactive management of the portfolio has resulted in further transfers of stressed customers to the specialised management of Global Restructuring Group.

 

 

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Market risk 

Market risk arises from changes in interest rates, foreign currency, credit spread, equity prices and risk related factors such as market volatilities. The Group manages market risk centrally within its trading and non-trading portfolios through a comprehensive market risk management framework. This framework includes limits based on, but not limited to, value-at-risk (VaR), stress testing, position and sensitivity analyses.

 

For a description of the Group's basis of measurement and methodology limitations, refer to the 2010 Annual Report and Accounts, Market risk, page 193.

 

Daily distribution of GBM trading revenues

 

 

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4912R_-2011-11-3.pdf 

Note:

(1)

The effect of any month end adjustments, not attributable to a specific daily market move, is spread evenly over the days in the month in question.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Market risk (continued)

 

Key points

 

Nine months ended 30 September 2011 compared with nine months ended 30 September 2010

·

GBM traded revenue decreased during 2011 due to the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis and heightened concerns about growth expectations for the world economy.



·

The average daily revenue earned from Core trading activities in 2011 was £22 million, compared with £29 million in 2010. The standard deviation of these daily revenues was £21 million, unchanged period on period.



·

The number of days with negative revenue increased from 11 days in 2010 to 24 days in 2011 due to market and economic conditions referred to above.



·

The most frequent result is daily revenue in the range of £25 million to £30 million with 24 occurrences in 2011, compared with 32 occurrences in 2010.

 

The table below details VaR for the Group's trading portfolio, segregated by type of market risk exposure, and between Core and Non-Core, Counterparty Exposure Management (CEM) and Core excluding CEM.


Quarter ended


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 

Trading VaR

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











Interest rate

51.3 

73.0 

73.1 

33.1 


39.4 

36.8 

75.7 

27.5 

Credit spread

56.2 

69.8 

69.8 

47.4 


73.2 

64.6 

95.0 

60.0 

Currency

8.7 

6.5 

12.5 

6.1 


9.4 

9.3 

14.2 

5.2 

Equity

7.9 

7.7 

13.1 

4.6 


10.4 

12.0 

17.3 

5.2 

Commodity

0.9 

3.6 

3.6 

0.1 


0.2 

0.3 

1.6 

Diversification


(54.3)





(61.0)













Total

78.3 

106.3 

114.2 

59.7 


78.7 

62.0 

117.9 

60.8 











Core

58.3 

83.1 

91.0 

41.7 


60.2 

42.5 

86.0 

42.5 

Core CEM

34.4 

38.0 

45.2 

23.5 


26.5 

23.2 

33.2 

21.9 

Core excluding CEM

44.3 

62.2 

71.4 

35.3 


57.1 

39.4 

78.4 

39.2 











Non-Core

40.4 

38.7 

53.0 

33.2 


69.3 

51.4 

110.1 

47.5 

 

Key points

 

Q3 2011 compared with Q2 2011

·

The Group's total trading VaR and interest rate VaR were significantly higher at the end of Q3 2011 than at end Q2 2011. This was largely driven by hedge positions for a large and successful UK gilt syndication in which RBS participated.



·

Average credit spread VaR and Non-Core trading VaR was considerably lower in Q3 2011 than in Q2 2011. Non-Core VaR decreased substantially during Q2 primarily due to a significant de-risking of the portfolios in line with the overall business strategy. The VaR continued to decline as the period of high volatility relating to the 2008/2009 credit crisis dropped out of the VaR calculations.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Market risk (continued)

 

Key points (continued)

·

The credit spread period end VaR was slightly higher in Q3 2011 than in Q2 2011. This was largely due to the recent volatility in the European sovereign peripheral time series entering the VaR window.



·

The CEM trading VaR increased in Q3 2011 due to the implementation of an enhanced discounting methodology for cross-currency trades.

 

 


Nine months ended


30 September 2011


30 September 2010


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 

Trading VaR

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











Interest rate

50.3 

73.0 

79.2 

27.5 


47.7 

74.3 

74.3 

32.5 

Credit spread

87.4 

69.8 

151.1 

47.4 


177.1 

190.8 

243.2 

113.0 

Currency

10.1 

6.5 

18.0 

5.2 


18.9 

16.7 

28.0 

9.3 

Equity

9.8 

7.7 

17.3 

4.6 


9.3 

5.4 

17.9 

2.7 

Commodity

0.4 

3.6 

3.6 


10.1 

13.8 

15.8 

3.2 

Diversification


(54.3)





(119.2)













Total

104.1 

106.3 

181.3 

59.7 


173.3 

181.8 

252.1 

103.0 











Core

75.3 

83.1 

133.9 

41.7 


105.1 

115.0 

153.4 

58.9 

Core CEM

33.6 

38.0 

47.6 

21.9 


55.1 

73.0 

82.4 

30.3 

Core excluding CEM

62.9 

62.2 

106.2 

35.3 


83.2 

78.4 

108.7 

53.6 











Non-Core

74.2 

38.7 

128.6 

33.2 


105.7 

101.8 

169.4 

63.2 

 

Key point

 

Nine months ended 30 September 2011 compared with nine months ended 30 September 2010

·

The Group's market risk profile in 2010 was equally split across Non-Core and Core divisions with a concentrated exposure to the credit spread risk factor. In line with the business strategy to wind down the Group's interest in Sempra and other Non-Core activities, the trading portfolio has now been re-balanced such that the Non-Core exposure has been significantly reduced and the trading portfolio is less concentrated in the credit risk factor.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Market risk (continued)

The table below details VaR for the Group's non-trading portfolio, excluding the structured portfolio  (SCP) and loans and receivables (LAR), segregated by type of market risk exposure and between Core and Non-Core.

 


Quarter ended


30 September 2011


30 June 2011


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 

Non-trading VaR

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











Interest rate

9.6 

10.3 

11.1 

8.2 


8.3 

8.3 

9.2 

5.7 

Credit spread

16.0 

14.8 

 18.0 

14.1 


19.1 

18.0 

24.2 

16.1 

Currency

3.0 

4.1 

5.9 

1.1 


1.7 

3.3 

3.3 

0.2 

Equity

1.9 

1.8 

2.0 

1.6 


2.2 

2.0 

2.4 

2.0 

Diversification


(13.5)





(13.1)













Total

17.6 

17.5 

18.9 

15.7 


18.7 

18.5 

22.5 

16.7 











Core

17.4 

18.6 

20.1 

15.2 


18.5 

19.4 

24.6 

15.7 

Non-Core

3.9 

3.7 

4.3 

3.2 


3.7 

4.3 

4.3 

2.8 

 

Key point

 

Q3 2011 compared with Q2 2011

·

The maximum credit spread VaR was lower in Q3 2011 than in Q2 2011. This was primarily due to the increased market volatility experienced during the 2008/2009 credit crisis, dropping out of the two year time series used by the VaR model. This volatility was particularly pronounced in respect of credit spreads and had a marked impact on historic credit spread VaR.

 


Nine months ended


30 September 2011


30 September 2010 (1)


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 


Average 

Period end 

Maximum 

Minimum 

Non-trading VaR

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 











Interest rate

8.6 

10.3 

11.1 

5.7 


8.9 

4.4 

20.5 

4.4 

Credit spread

19.6 

14.8 

39.3 

14.1 


37.1 

19.4 

101.2 

19.4 

Currency

1.8 

4.1 

5.9 

0.1 


2.1 

2.0 

7.6 

0.3 

Equity

2.2 

1.8 

3.1 

1.6 


0.6 

0.4 

3.5 

0.2 

Diversification


(13.5)





(6.8)













Total

20.9 

17.5 

41.6 

13.4 


35.8 

19.4 

98.0 

19.4 











Core

20.4 

18.6 

38.9 

13.5 


35.5 

19.3 

98.1 

19.3 

Non-Core

3.4 

3.7 

4.3 

2.2 


0.8 

0.3 

3.6 

0.2 

 

Note:

(1)

Revised to exclude LAR portfolios.

 

Key point

 

Nine months ended 30 September 2011 compared with nine months ended 30 September 2010

·

The maximum credit spread VaR was considerably lower in 2011 than in the same period in 2010. This was due to a change in the time series used for the Dutch RMBS portfolio in RBS N.V. where more relevant and granular market data had become available and provided a better reflection of the risk in the portfolio. The VaR decreased through the period as the volatile market data continued to drop out of the 500 day time series used in the VaR calculation.

 



 

Risk and balance sheet management (continued)

 

Market risk (continued)

 

Structured Credit Portfolio (SCP)

 


Drawn notional


Fair value


CDOs 

CLOs 

MBS (1)

Other 

 ABS 

Total 


CLOs 

MBS (1)

Other 

 ABS 

Total 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 


£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 













30 September 2011












1-2 years

29 

36 

65 


28 

31 

59 

2-3 years

172 

177 


160 

164 

3-4 years

43 

55 


40 

50 

4-5 years

39 

95 

134 


36 

88 

124 

5-10 years

32 

517 

317 

277 

1,143 


30 

469 

230 

242 

971 

>10 years

1,296 

454 

470 

593 

2,813 


228 

394 

314 

349 

1,285 














1,334 

1,010 

827 

1,216 

4,387 


263 

899 

581 

910 

2,653 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 June 2011












1-2 years

45 

46 

91 


44 

41 

85 

2-3 years

11 

183 

194 


10 

170 

180 

3-4 years

11 

48 

64 


10 

46 

61 

4-5 years

15 

56 

71 


14 

53 

67 

5-10 years

95 

396 

315 

365 

1,171 


84 

370 

245 

322 

1,021 

>10 years

390 

498 

551 

526 

1,965 


167 

420 

391 

388 

1,366 














501 

909 

922 

1,224 

3,556 


266 

804 

690 

1,020 

2,780 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 December 2010












1-2 years

47 

47 


42 

42 

2-3 years

85 

19 

44 

98 

246 


81 

18 

37 

91 

227 

3-4 years

41 

20 

205 

266 


-  

37 

19 

191 

247 

4-5 years

16 

16 


15 

15 

5-10 years

98 

466 

311 

437 

1,312 


87 

422 

220 

384 

1,113 

>10 years

412 

663 

584 

550 

2,209 


161 

515 

397 

367 

1,440 














611 

1,189 

959 

1,337 

4,096 


344 

992 

673 

1,075 

3,084 

 

Note:

(1)

MBS include sub-prime RMBS with a notional amount of £406 million (30 June 2011 - £451 million; 31 December 2010 - £471 million) and a fair value of £274 million (30 June 2011 - £325 million; 31 December 2010 - £329 million), all with residual maturities of greater than 10 years.

 

The SCP non-trading risk in Non-Core is not measured using VaR as the Group believes this is not an appropriate tool for this portfolio of illiquid debt securities. The fair value and drawn notional are represented on a net basis.

 

The increase in drawn notional for CDOs and CLOs at the quarter ended 30 September 2011 was due to the exposure to legacy positions in the banking book portfolio. These positions were previously hedged, with both positions and hedges marked at fair value, well below their notional values. The hedges that were considered to be ineffective were removed in Q3 2011, resulting in a large increase in net notional values but only a small increase in net fair values.

 



 

Additional information

 

 


30 September 

2011 

30 June 

2011 

31 December 

2010 

 




Ordinary share price

£0.235 

£0.385 

£0.391 





Number of ordinary shares in issue

59,228m 

59,226m 

58,458m 





Market capitalisation (including B shares)

£25.9bn 

£42.4bn 

£42.8bn 

 

 

Statutory results

Financial information contained in this document does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 ('the Act'). The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2010 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor on those statutory accounts was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Act.

 

These third quarter 2011 results have not been audited or reviewed by the auditors.

 

Financial calendar 



2011 annual results announcement                                                  

Thursday 23 February 2012



2012 first quarter interim management statement                                                  

Friday 4 May 2012





 

 

 

 

 

 


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